"Working with Persons with Disabilities"

Jason Price

• Do you know someone with a disability?
• Have you spoken with a person with a disability today?
• Do you work with someone with a disability?
• Do you socialize with a person with a disability?
• Do you have a family member with a disability?
• Do you believe that you will never have a disability?
• Would you want a family member dating or marrying a person with a disability?
• All persons with disabilities are amazing?  I throw that one in cus I think I am.  ha ha

If you had to have a disability, but you got the choice as to which one you have. How many of you would

• Be blind
• Be deaf
• Be in a wheelchair
• Have a mental disability

1. What does an individual with a disability prefer to be called…  A person with a disability or people with disabilities.
2. What is the distinction between disability and handicap
    
   A disability is a condition caused by accident, trauma, genetics or disease which may limit a person’s mobility, hearing, vision, speech or mental functions.  Some people have one or more disabilities.
    
   A handicap is a physical or attitudinal constraint that has been imposed upon a person, regardless of whether that person has a disability.  Webster defines it as handicap “put to disadvantage”
    
   You can have a disability that is obvious or a hidden disability.
    
   What would be some examples of "hidden disabilities"?
3. Persons with disabilities, make up 20 per cent of the population and are our nation’s largest growing minority.  As the population ages, approximately 40 percent of those over 65 will have a disability.  According to the Census Bureau’s 1997 edition of Current Population Reports, there are 54 million Americans with disabilities.  The US Census Bureau estimates that one out of every two people in our country will have a disability in 20 years.
4. One of the first things that you do when meeting a person with a disability is usually converse with them.  There are many ways that you can be more comfortable with that person.  These were found in the Oklahoma Disability Etiquette handbook,
    
   A. When talking to a person with a disability, look and speak directly to that person, rather than through a companion who may be along.
    
   B. Relax, don’t be embarrassed if you happen to use accepted, common expressions, such as “see you later” “got to be running along” that seems to relate to the person’s disability
    
   C. To get the attention of a person with a hearing impairment, tap the person on the shoulder or wave your hand.  Look directly at the person and speak clearly, naturally and slowly to establish if the person can read lips.  Not all person with hearing impairments can lip read.
    
   D. When talking  with a person in a wheelchair for more than a few minutes, utilize a chair, whenever possible, in order to place yourself at the person’s eye level to facilitate conversation.
    
   E. When greeting a person with a severe loss of vision, always identify yourself and others who may be with you.
    
   F. Listen attentively when you are talking to a person who has a speech impairment.  Keep your manner encouraging rather than correcting.  Patience rather than attempting to speak for a person with a speech difficulty.  When necessary, ask short questions that require short answers. If you have difficulty communicating, be willing to repeat or rephrase a question.
5. The American with Disabilities Act ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities that are similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, sex, national origin, and religion.  It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.
6. WHAT IS OUR AGENCY DOING?
   A. Identifying individuals with disabilities
   B. Providing equipment and access… Tell about CIA
   C. Reasonable Accommodations

1. How do we access this?  Every division has an ADA coordinator so ask your supervisor or check the directory about who that might be.  I know for visual services it is Sharon Harmon.  Also to request an accommodation you must go through your supervisor or ADA coordinator.
2. Who needs it.  Anyone who has a defined disability or condition that needs some type of accommodation to make their job easier. 

We are an agency with the main focus of serving individuals with disabilities and we have many individuals with disabilities working for us.  It doesn't matter what type of position you have in this agency, you will come across someone with a disability.  Be prepared and be comfortable, we are just people like you.

BASIC ETIQUETTE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

1. Any and assistive devices (canes, wheelchairs, crutches, communication boards, etc.) should always be respected as personal property.  Unless given specific and explicit permission, do not move, play with or use them.
2. A.  Always direct your communication to the individual with a disability.  If they are accompanied, do not direct you comments to the companion.
    
   B. Be patient and ask questions if you can’t understand them. Never pretend you can understand someone if you do not.
    
   C. Do not talk down to the person or like they are a child (unless they really are a child).
3. Do not focus on the disability, but on the individual and the issue at hand.
4. If you are uncertain about what to do ask.  Most people would rather answer a question about protocol than be in an uncomfortable situation.
5. Don’t worry about what to call someone.  All people with disabilities have names.
6. Remember that people with disabilities are interested in the same topics of conversation as non-disabled people.
7. If you want to ask someone about his/her disability, then ask. Be polite and respectful.
8. Use a normal speaking tone and style.  If someone needs you to speak in a louder voice, he or she will ask you to do so.
9. Remember that people with disabilities, like all people, are experts on themselves. They know what they like, what they don’t like, and what they can and cannot do.
10. If it looks like someone with a disability might need some help, just ask him/her.  The worst they can do is say “no, thank you.”
11. People with disabilities in the work place are there because they  need to earn a living, want to be productive, and contribute to society.  Ensure that your attitudes do not prevent that from happening.
12. People with disabilities are just normal people with physical limitations.  Please don’t stare for long periods of time.  Do look them in the eye and smile or nod in passing just as you do to others.
13. Let your child talk to people with disabilities.  It is really sad when parents do not let children ask questions or talk. Children are very accepting.
14. Do not pat someone with a disability on the head.  They are not pets or toys. They are people.
15. Not everyone can shake hands.  Try a nod or a smile instead.
16. Relax and be yourself.
17. As with all other etiquette issues, when mistakes are made, apologize, correct the problem, learn from the mistake, and move on.

SPEAKING AND WRITING

1. Please avoid these words/terms when referring to a person with a  disability:  cripple, victim, defect, invalid, sick, diseased, or wheelchair bound.
2. Please use terms such as physically disabled or “He/she uses a wheelchair.”  Remember they are people first and disabled second.

WHEN YOU ARE WITH SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR

1. Do not push, drive, lean on, grab, hold or anything else to their wheelchair without permission.  This is their personal space and property.
2. Rearrange furniture if there is something blocking the way of their wheelchair.
3. Try to get on eye level with the person if possible.
4. Do not park in a disabled parking space unless you have the proper identification and have a disability that warrants you to park there.  People need the bigger area to get out wheelchairs, etc.