Dealing with people of determination

Talk directly to someone with a disability, not through a companion, and don’t be embarrassed if you happen to be using common and acceptable expressions, such as see you later or I should run with you that seem to relate inappropriately to the person’s disability.

• To attract the attention of a person with a hearing impairment, gently press his shoulder or wave your hand, look directly at the person and speak clearly, slowly and explicitly.
• When talking to someone in a wheelchair for more than a few minutes, place yourself at the level of the person’s eye to avoid stiff neck
• When greeting someone with severe vision loss, always introduce yourself and others who may be with you Say when speaking in a group, give audio cues, such as identifying the person you are talking to, speak in a normal tone of voice, and indicate when you move from one place to another and when the conversation ends.
• Offer help to a person with a disability if you feel they need to, but wait for your offer to be accepted before you help, when giving directions to someone in a wheelchair, consider distance, weather conditions, and physical obstacles, such as stairs and restrictions.