General tips for communicating with people with a disability

Speak to a person with a disability as you would speak to anyone else. Speak in an age-appropriate tone and treat adults as adults.
If a person with a disability is accompanied by another person, such as a carer, you should still speak directly to the person with disability.
Put the person first, not their disability. For example, use the term ‘a person with disability’ rather than ‘a disabled person’. This is always an individual choice.
Try to avoid negative phrases such as ‘suffers from’ and ‘crippled’. Use the phrase ‘people who use a wheelchair’ rather than ‘wheelchair bound’.

Communicating with people with physical disabilities

Remember that someone’s personal space can include their wheelchair and crutches. Don’t touch or push a person’s wheelchair, and don’t move their crutches or walking stick without their permission.
When speaking with a person who uses a wheelchair, try to find something to sit on to be at eye level with them.

Communicating with people with a vision impairment

When you meet people who have a vision impairment, always address them by name and introduce yourself.
Speak clearly and in a normal voice – there is no need to raise your voice.
Remember that people with vision impairment can’t rely on the same visual cues as people without a vision impairment. Make sure you verbalise any thoughts or feelings.
If a person is accompanied by a guide dog, don’t pat it, feed it or distract it while it’s in a harness. A dog in a harness is working to support its owner.
When you enter or leave a room, say something to make sure that the person who has a vision impairment won’t be embarrassed by speaking to an empty space.

Communicating with people with a hearing impairment

Gain the person’s attention before speaking. Try a gentle tap on the shoulder, a wave or some other visual signal to get the person’s attention.
Face the person directly and maintain eye contact.
Make sure your mouth is visible – don’t cover it with your hand or any other object as you talk.
Look directly at the person while speaking and don’t speak too fast or too slow.
Don’t exaggerate your mouth movements – this will only make it more difficult to lip-read.
Use short sentences.
Keep your volume at a natural level – don’t shout.

Communicating with people with an intellectual disability

Make sure you have the person’s attention before you start talking. Try using their name or making eye contact.
Keep your questions simple and your answers easy to understand.
Remember that your body language is important because people with an intellectual disability often rely on visual cues.
Be prepared to use visual information or to get visual information from people with an intellectual disability.
Be specific and direct. Avoid talking using abstracts, acronyms, metaphors or puns.

Communicating with people with a mental illness

Mental illness is a health issue that can significantly affect how a person feels, thinks, behaves and interacts with other people. Mental illness is a general term that refers to a group of illnesses including, but not limited to:

mood disorders (such as depression and bipolar disorder)
anxiety disorders
psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia and some forms of bipolar disorder).

One of the common mistakes people make when talking to someone with a mental illness is that they talk too much. When we are talking, we are not listening. The best thing to do is to say less and listen more.

Be respectful to the person. When someone feels respected and heard, they are more likely to return respect and consider what you have to say.
Some people with paranoia may be frightened, so be aware that they may need more body space than you.
Instead of directing the conversation at them with ‘you’ statements, use ‘I’ statements instead.
Ease into the conversation gradually. It may be that the person is not in a place to talk, and that is OK.
Be sure to speak in a relaxed and calm manner.
Talk to them in a space that is comfortable, where you won’t likely be interrupted and where there are likely minimal distractions.
Do not lie to them, as it will usually break any rapport you might want to establish.
Be aware of a person becoming upset or confused by your conversation with them.
Listen to the person and try to understand what they are communicating.
Communicate in a straightforward manner and stick to one topic at a time.
Be a good listener, be responsive and make eye contact with a caring approach.
Give them the opportunity to talk and open up but don’t press.
Reduce any defensiveness by sharing your feelings and looking for common ground.
If needed, set limits with the person as you would others. For example, “I only have five minutes to talk to you” or “If you scream, I will not be able to talk to you.”

Things to Avoid Doing:

Criticizing, blaming or raising your voice at them.
Talking too much, too rapidly, too loudly. Silence and pauses are OK.
Showing any form of hostility towards them.
Avoid excessive whispering, joking and laughing as these behaviours could be viewed as dangerous to someone with paranoia.
Assuming things about them or their situation.
Being sarcastic or making jokes about their condition.
Patronising them or saying anything condescending.

Sally Op't Hoog

Teaching and Learning Leader - Learning Diversity

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