Tips for Communications With People With Developmental Disabilities

When talking with a person who has a disability, speak in a clear normal voice directly to that person rather than through someone who happens to be with them.

When meeting a person with a disability it is appropriate to offer a handshake.

Listen attentively when talking with a person who has a disability. Be patient and wait for the person to finish rather than correcting or speaking for the person. Never pretend to understand if you are having difficulty doing so. Repeat what you understand. The person s reactions will guide you to understand. Place the person before the disability out of respect for individual uniqueness and worth. Refer to an individual as a "person with a disability" or an "individual who has a disability" rather than a "disabled person".

If it looks like someone with a disability may need assistance, just ask them. The worst they can do is say "No, thank you."

When talking with a person who uses a wheelchair sit down in order to place yourself at the person's eye level.

Treat everyone with dignity, courtesy and respect. Don't treat individuals like children just because they have a disability. Like everyone else they have different strengths and different needs.

Links for More Information on Disability Etiquette

Short guide for restaurants for serving customers with developmental disabilities.
www.mcddregion4.org/bridges/restaurants.asp

Tips for communicating with people with disabilities
http://www.inclusion.org/inclusion/htdocs/aboutus/what_is.html

List of person first language
http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/

Resource manual for meeting the needs of customers with disabilities
http://archives.communityinclusion.org/onestop/onestopmanual.html

Providing quality services to customers with disabilities
http://www.ucp.org/ucp_channeldoc.cfm/1/17/11928/11928-11928/4648