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The Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), other legislation, and the efforts of many disability organizations
have begun to improve accessibility in buildings, increase access to
education, open employment opportunities, and develop realistic portrayals
of persons with disabilities in television programming and motion pictures.
However, more progress needs to be made. Many people still view persons
with disabilities as individuals to be pitied, feared, or ignored. These
attitudes may arise from discomfort with individuals who are perceived
to be different or simply from a lack of information. Listed below are
some suggestions on how to relate and communicate with and about people
with disabilities. We must look beyond the disability and look at the
individual's ability and capability--the things that make each of us
unique and worthwhile.
Words
Positive language empowers. When
writing or speaking about people with disabilities, it is important
to put the person first. Group designations such as "the blind," "the
deaf" or "the disabled" are inappropriate because they do not reflect
the individuality, equality, or dignity of people with disabilities.
Following are examples of positive and negative phrases. Note that the
positive phrases put the person first.
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Affirmative Phrases
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Negative Phrases
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person with mental retardation
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retarded, mentally defective
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person who is blind, person who is visually impaired
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the blind
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person with a disability
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the handicapped, crippled
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person who is deaf, person who is hard of hearing
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suffers a hearing loss, the deaf
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person who has multiple sclerosis
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afflicted by MS
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person with cerebral palsy
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CP victim
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person with epilepsy, person with seizure disorder
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epileptic
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person who uses a wheelchair
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confined or restricted to a wheelchair
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person who has muscular dystrophy
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person who has muscular dystrophy
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physically disabled
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crippled, lame, deformed
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unable to speak, uses synthetic speech
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dumb, mute
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seizure
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fit
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successful, productive
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has overcome her/his disability
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person with psychiatric disability
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crazy, nuts
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person who no longer lives in an institution
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the de-institutionalized
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says she/he has a disability
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admits she/he has a disability
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person without a disability
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normal person (implies that the person with a disability is
not normal)
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Actions
Outlined below are the "Ten Commandments
of Etiquette for Communicating with People with Disabilities" to help
you in communicating with persons with disabilities.
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When talking with a person with a disability, speak
directly to that person rather than through a companion or sign
language interpreter.
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When introduced to a person with a disability, it
is appropriate to offer to shake hands. People with limited hand
use or who wear an artificial limb can usually shake hands. (Shaking
hands with the left hand is an acceptable greeting.)
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When meeting a person who is visually impaired, always
identify yourself and others who may be with you. When conversing
in a group, remember to identify the person to whom you are speaking.
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If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted.
Then listen to or ask for instructions.
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Treat adults as adults. Address people who have disabilities
by their first names only when extending the same familiarity to
all others. (Never patronize people who use wheelchairs by patting
them on the head or shoulder.)
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Leaning on or hanging on to a person's wheelchair
is similar to leaning on hanging on to a person and is generally
considered annoying. The chair is part of the personal body space
of the person who uses it.
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Listen attentively when you're talking with a person
who has difficulty speaking. Be patient and wait for the person
to finish, rather than correcting or speaking for the person. If
necessary, ask short questions that require short answers, a nod
or shake of the head. Never pretend to understand if you are having
difficulty doing so. Instead, repeat what you have understood and
allow the person to respond. The response will clue you in and guide
your understanding.
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When speaking with a person who uses a wheelchair
or a person who uses crutches, place yourself at eye level in front
of the person to facilitate the conversation.
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To get the attention of a person who is deaf, tap
the person on the shoulder or wave your hand. Look directly at the
person and speak clearly, slowly, and expressively to determine
if the person can read your lips. Not all people who are deaf can
read lips. For those who do lip read, be sensitive to their needs
by placing yourself so that you face the light source and keep hands,
cigarettes and food away from your mouth when speaking.
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Relax. Don't be embarrassed if you happen to use accepted,
common expressions such as "See you later," or "Did you hear about
that?" that seems to relate to a person's disability. Don't be afraid
to ask questions when you're unsure of what to do.
Source: The President's Committee
on Employment of People with Disabilities
For more information
To learn more about your rights
and responsibilities as an employee or a supervisor, to request a reasonable
accommodation, or to file a complaint of discrimination, please contact:
Ruth J. Townsend, ADA Coordinator
Office of Equity and Diversity Services
D 105 Mason Hall MS 2C2
Voice: (703) 993-8730
TTY: (703) 993-8787
rtownse2@gmu.edu
This document can be made available in alternative formats such as Braille,
large print, or audiotape upon request to the Office of Equity and Diversity
Services at the numbers above.
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