When Communicating with a Person Who Experiences a Disability That Impacts Hearing

Disability Etiquette Quick Tips Disability Myths and Facts

When communicating with a person who experiences Myth: People with disabilities are handicapped. a disability that impacts hearing 1. Speak clearly and distinctly, but don’t exaggerate. Fact: The terms “disabled” and “handicapped” are often 2. Use normal speech. Don’t shout. used interchangeably. In fact, the latter term carries 3. Provide a clear view of your mouth. Face out when negative connotations, indicating that a disability prevents speaking rather than facing the board and repeat someone from being a full functioning member of society. questions before answering them. A disability does not always present a handicap; rather it 4. If you are having trouble understanding the speech of often means that a person with a disability may do an individual who is deaf feel free to ask him/her to something a little differently from a nondisabled person, repeat. If that doesn’t work, then use paper and pen. but with the same result and with equal participation. Don’t pretend to understand if you don’t. 5. Speak directly to the individual, not to the interpreter. Myth: Individuals with disabilities need to be protected from failing. When communicating with a person who experiences a disability that impacts mobility Fact: People with disabilities have a right to participate in 1. Offer help, but wait until it is accepted. the full range of human experiences – including success 2. Treat a person with a disability as a healthy person. and failure. Employers and educators should have the Because an individual has a functional limitation same expectations of, and work requirements for, all does not mean the individual is sick. employees and students. 3. Speak directly to the individual, not to a companion or personal care assistant. Myth: Disability is a constantly frustrating tragedy. People with disabilities are courageous, brave, and When communicating with a person who experiences inspirational by being able to overcome their disabilities. a disability that impacts vision 1. Offer help, but wait until it is accepted. Fact: Disability is an inconvenience. Most people with 2. If you are helping, and aren’t sure what to do, ask. disabilities do not sit around and ponder their disability all 3. A gentle touch on the elbow will indicate to a person the time. They simply carry on their lives as normally as who is blind that you are speaking to him/her. they can. Individuals with disabilities cannot be 4. If you are walking with a person who is blind, don’t stereotyped any more than can other minority groups. take that person’s arm, rather offer your arm. Each person is an individual personality and, as such, 5. Never pet a guide dog, except during “off-duty” each person with a disability will deal with his or her hours. Even then, you should ask the owner first. disability differently. 6. Don’t worry about substituting words for “see” or “look” as in “I’ll see you later.” Myth: Nondisabled people are disgusted by disability.

Remember: Fact: Because our society places such importance on Individuals with disabilities are people first, and like all youth and beauty, many nondisabled people have mixed people they want to be accepted and understood. They emotions when they meet someone who is “different.” want other people to know that their disability is not all What may be interpreted as disgust may actually be that they are. It is an inconvenience, but a disability need feelings of guilt, curiosity, fear, or sympathy. A not be a handicap unless the environment they live in nondisabled person who fears saying the “wrong” thing to handicaps them with physical or attitudinal barriers. a person with a disability may avoid communication. A person with a disability may think he/she is being Universal Design shunned because of his or her appearance. This Universal Design is “the design of products and discomfort can be helped if persons with disabilities and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest nondisabled people see and interact with each other more extent possible, without the need for adaptation or often in work and social settings. specialized design.” Myth: Individuals who experience disabilities lead totally Posting course documents online is an example of a UD different lives than others. approach because it affords students a choice. They can read the information visually, translate it to Braille, or can Fact: Disability cuts through all segments of society. listen as it is read out loud by a computer program. People with disabilities come from all backgrounds. It is More information on UD can be found online at: impossible to neatly separate the two groups. People with www.uaa.alaska.edu/dss/faculty/universaldesign.cfm disabilities go to work, pay taxes, raise families, etc.

Disability Support Services 786-4530 (V) 786-4536 (TTY) Disability Support Services 786-4530 (V) 786-4536 (TTY) University of Alaska Anchorage www.uaa.alaska.edu/dss University of Alaska Anchorage www.uaa.alaska.edu/dss