Respect
Working with people who have disabilities
- Make necessary accommodations
- Adapt your communication style
- Speak to the person directly
- Listen carefully
- Be flexible in your language
- Use "people first" language
- Try another way
- Focus on the person
- Relax
In other words, we show respect for people by focusing on them as people rather than on their disabilities. Respect includes more than changing our words or using certain phrases. It also means making accommodations based upon what an individual can do. These changes may include:
- Meeting at a location that accommodates a person with a physical disability
- Changing how we say things to be sure the person understands
- Changing our voice volume when we speak
- Listening carefully to a person to be sure we understand what was said.
At times, People First language may mean trying another way of communicating. While this may sound like a lot to consider, remaining relaxed and at ease will help. Overall, the main point to remember is to be understanding. We need to work toward understanding our clients and having our clients understand us.