General Tips for Interacting with People with Disabilities

• Ask before offering assistance. Do not assume a person with a disability wants or needs help.
• If assistance is requested or accepted, listen to or ask for instructions.
• Make eye contact and speak directly to the person and not through the individual’s companion or interpreter.
• A person’s disability is often a private matter. First inquire whether they are open to talking about it before asking questions.
• Most disabilities do not affect a person’s I.Q.
• Be aware of a tendency to exaggerate the impact of a disability based on stereotypes and myths about the type of disability. Do not make assumptions about what the person can or cannot do.
• Mainly, relax. Treat the person with the same respect and courtesy that you have for everyone else.

COGNITIVE DISABILITIES (e.g. Learning Disabilities, ADHD, brain injury)

• If you are in a noisy or visually distracting area, consider moving to a quiet or private location.
• If you receive no verbal or visual feedback while speaking, ask the person if they understood what you have said. Be prepared to repeat your statements if necessary.
• Do not assume you have to explain everything to a person with a cognitive disability; s/he does not necessarily have a problem with general comprehension.
• Be patient and flexible. The individual may need extra time for making decisions or responding.

DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING

• Face the individual when speaking so s/he can utilize visual cues to assist with communication. Remember gum chewing, hand placement and a turned back all interfere with an ability to lip-read and observe facial expressions.
• Enunciate clearly, but not in an exaggerated fashion. Speak at a normal rate.
• When possible, pick a quiet location. Background noise can significantly interfere with any residual hearing.
• Speak directly to the person and not to a sign language interpreter, captioner or friend.
• When communication breaks down re-phrase rather than repeat.
• To get a person’s attention, use a hand motion or wave in their field of peripheral vision. Sometimes a stomp on the floor or a light pounding on a shared table may work best.
• Be patient. When asked to repeat your statements, do not say, “Never mind.” Consider written communication.

VISUAL DISABILITIES

• Be descriptive to help orient the person to his/her surroundings. While walking, inform the individual about possible hazards, as well as when to step up or down. Tell how many steps to expect. Describe where objects in the room are (e.g. “the computer mouse is to your left”).
• When offering a seat, lightly place the person’s hand on the back or arm of the chair.
• Allow the individual to hold onto your arm as a guide, rather than holding onto the person. Do not attempt to touch or guide him/her unless you have permission.
• Never pet or distract a guide dog.
• When approaching or leaving, speak to the person so they are aware of your presence. Identify yourself in a clear and normal tone of voice. It is not necessary to speak loudly; people with visual impairments generally do not have difficulty hearing.
• Offer to read aloud written materials when appropriate.

MOBILITY/ORTHPEDIC DISABILITIES

• A wheelchair is part of the personal body space of the person who uses it. Do not lean or hang on a person’s chair.
• If possible place yourself at the wheelchair user’s eye level.
• It is okay to use common phrases such as “go for a walk” even if the person’s disability prevents literal walking.
• Do not push a person’s wheelchair unless asked or given permission.
• Offer to provide assistance if the individual is having difficulty opening a door.
• People who have limited hand use or an artificial limb can usually shake hands. Shaking hands with the left hand is also acceptable.

SPEECH DISABILITIES

• Listen patiently. Do not complete sentences for a person unless s/he asks for help.
• If you do not understand what the person said, do not pretend that you do. Ask them to repeat what they said and/or spell a word if necessary.
• Try asking questions that only require short answers or a nod of the head.
• If you have difficulty understanding the person, consider writing as a mode of communication, but first ask the individual if this is acceptable.

CHRONIC SYSTEMIC DISORDERS (e.g. Lupus, Chronic Fatigue, etc).

• At times it may be necessary to repeat information or write down important details for the person. S/he may have concentration or memory difficulties due to pain or fatigue.
• Do not assume the person is under the influence of a substance if they seem to have difficulty walking steadily.
• Be sensitive to issues of stamina. Meetings/visits may need to be shorter. Ask the person what they prefer.
• Be cognizant of not labeling the individual as lazy or irresponsible. Systemic disorders may require a person to obtain a significant amount of rest.

Seizure Disorders

• The general recommendation is that you call X 7123 (330-972-7123) Campus police if a student has a seizure in your classroom. Akron will contact Wayne Campus Police and dispatch an officer to access whether there is need for additional medical attention or treatment.

Each student’s seizure activity is individual. If a student with accommodations provides you with a seizure protocol please follow the protocol. If protocol is NOT provided to you by the student or the ADA Coordinator, follow the above general recommendations for handling a seizure disorder incident.