4. Treat adults as children. For example, help people in wheelchairs by patting them on the head or shoulder. <\/span><\/p>\nIt gives disabled people the feeling of being welcome members to society. Not fully welcome, of course, and a bit on the marginalized side, obviously – but still. Also it reminds them to not try to speak up while “healthy” adults are talking.<\/p>\n
5. Listen attentively when conversing with someone who has a disability but never wait for them to finish their sentences. Pretend to understand and if ever possible, finish sentences for them.<\/span><\/p>\n“I have problems talking fast and also I limp” says Heather Metterstone who had a stroke seven years ago, leaving her with residual neurological damage. “It is always so hard to speak so fast and I am ever so happy for others to finish my sentences for me” she added. Once she was at an airport trying to ask whether they’d serve drinks on the plane. When she finally had walked up to the counter and started to ask “Excuse me, can I…?” the lady interrupted her asking back “…travel business class as you don’t want the narrow seats? Yes sure let me check”. Heather added “If I had spoken fast and not limped that would never have happened”.<\/p>\n
8. Place yourself at eye level when speaking with someone in a wheelchair or on crutches. You may be saving them from a neck ache.<\/span><\/p>\nUsually, people in wheelchairs have a hard time seeing and recognizing folks around them as “human” simply because these – seen from their viewpoint – lack faces. Either you should walk bent, wear a mask around your knee or, if ever possible, sit down to talk to them.<\/p>\n
9. Never worry about peoole with hearing disabilities. Talk to them as if they are regular folks. Blur words together, mumble, use jargon and go about your things the usual way. If it is important, they will alert you to it. Then, repeat what you said at the top of your lungs. That way, everyone else also will realize how far out of the line of your duty you go to accomodate for the other person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHintz Kundelberg, who is\u00a0profoundly\u00a0deaf, says “I just wait until I hear their voice scream – then I know they mean it”. He said that he can get by very well by ignoring the rest of the daily banter.<\/p>\n
10. Be careful. Do not use “can you lend me a hand” for an arm amputee, “I was just pulling your leg” for a leg amputee”, “I see what you mean” to a blind person or “I am listening” to a person that cannot speak. It is better to avoid these sentences, or, if ever possible, any sentence that can be misunderstood, in conjunction with people with disabilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSorter from the school for the blind giggles when asked whether it\u0092s OK to say \u0093See you later\u0094 to a blind person.\u00a0\u0093I see things,\u0094 she said. \u0093I may see them differently than you do, but I see them.\u0094\u00a0She said political correctness has become overdone, including debate over whether it\u0092s more polite to call someone \u0093blind\u0094 or \u0093visually impaired.\u0094\u00a0\u0093People get so unsure and worried, \u0091What if I do something wrong?\u0092 They won\u0092t talk to you at all,\u0094 she said.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Alright, this was satirical. Or, was it.<\/p>\n\n