Barrier-Free World
Attitude is the number one barrier that a person with a disability must deal with on a
regular basis.
Public figures are helping bring forward issues that are relevant to the disability
community. Celebrities such as the late Christopher Reeves (Spinal Cord Injury),
Michael J. Fox and Mohammad Ali (Parkinson's Disease), Neve Campbell (brother with
Tourette Syndrome), Annette, Funicello, and the late Richard Pryor (Multiple Sclerosis)
have become leaders in speaking out to the needs of people with disabilities. However,
this is not enough, every day people need to make an effort to learn about the
differences and the similarities that we all share, regardless of our ability or disability.
Here are some quick tips:
Always use "people first" terminology. That is, refer to the person not their disability or
technology. A person has quadriplegia, they are not a "quad". The simple rule of
"people first" will help you go a long way in proper etiquette within the disability
community, but don't go to great lengths to avoid saying it like it is. A person is Blind,
they may be Deaf, or they may be someone who uses a wheelchair.
Use positive terminology. A person is not confined to his/her wheelchair. The
wheelchair gives that person the freedom to move about. Instead, refer to the person
as using a wheelchair.
Although, in both cases this can vary depending on the individual. It is acceptable for a
person with a disability to reference him/herself as a "quad", but the same courtesy does
not extend to the general public. As with many social groups, self-labeling is acceptable
if you are a part of the community. For example, there is a travel site on the Internet
called "gimp on the go". This site is dedicated to providing travel information to people
with mobility related disabilities. While the site's editor (Adam Lloyd) uses this term, he
himself is a person living with quadriplegia.
Also, a person using a wheelchair may refer to being confined to their chair if the
circumstance is recent or sudden and they are feeling a loss of the mobility they once
had, for example a person who was in a car accident.
A diagnosis tells you nothing about a person with a disability. There are many people
who are classified as being legally blind, but have the ability to see (shapes,
shadows/light, or close up). Some people refer to being Deaf, but are actually hard of
hearing. Two people with Cerebral Palsy will present themselves very different from one
another. Some people with Cerebral Palsy require a wheelchair for mobility, others are
capable of walking on their own, or with support from a cane, crutch, or walker.
When interacting with a person with a disability, respond to their need, not their
diagnosis. For example, when meeting with a person who is blind, your challenge may
be ensuring that they have access to reading materials. Accessible reading materials
may be in electronic format, Braille, or large print. You'll need to know which is best for
the individual. How can you possibly know? Ask!
Not everyone with a disability uses a wheelchair. That might seem like common sense,
but I have met with fairly intelligent people who hired me to perform a focus group on a
sample of their clients who were deaf and blind, but the questions they gave me in
preparation of developing my interview questions all had to do with wheelchairs. Now
that's not to say that a person who is blind or who is deaf may or may not use a
wheelchair, but don't assume that because they have a disability that the wheelchair is
part of the package.
It is not uncommon for a person with a disability to have more than one type of disability.
Recognize a person's autonomy and their rights. Do not assume that a person with a
disability needs or wants help. Just because it takes someone a little longer to put on
their coat or tie their shoe laces does not mean they need assistance. Remember, while
it may seem slow or tedious to you, that is how the person normally performs the task.
But if you want to help, ask. And, if you offer and they accept, but you are uncertain
what to do, ask how you can help.
Address the person directly. If a companion is traveling with them, do not speak to the
companion as if the person with a disability is not there. Don't be afraid to ask the
person to repeat something if you don't understand. Depending on the disability, it
might take a few attempts, or you may have to find an alternate way of communicating.
But don't lose out on the opportunity to get to know a person just because you're afraid
you might say or do the wrong thing.
If the person uses some form of technology, remember, that this is personal space -- an
extension of who they are. Do not lean on, or sit in a person's wheelchair if it is empty.
Do not, read the screen of a communication device until the person using the device is
ready to share their thoughts with you.
Have you given thought as to what is a disability? Does a person who uses a wheelchair
have a disability? I'll admit the most likely answer is "yes". But then again, by definition
does a disability exist if that person is capable of doing everything he or she wishes?
What about a person who smokes? No, smoking isn't a disability. The addiction to
nicotine may be. And the limitation to walking as a result of prolonged smoking definitely
creates a disability.
The census information that we work from that gives us the number of people with a
disability is all based on self-diagnosis. How a person classifies their disability is
personal. Some people with what you and I would consider as having a disability might
not see it that way themselves. Look at the elderly. Would your grandmother consider
herself to have a disability? Yet, can she walk a city block without resting, or can she
climb a flight of stairs without getting short of breath? Can she read the print in the
newspaper? How about you? Do you wear glasses? Do you consider yourself to be
disabled? What happens if you lose your glasses?
The Deaf Community is a good example of "controversy" on labelling a person. Most
people within the Deaf (capital "d") Community do not consider themselves to having a
disability. After all, how difficult will it be for us to communicate if I only communicate in
Spanish and you only communicate in English? Is that any different if I communicate
using American Sign Language (ASL) and you communicate using English? Its
language (communication) that separates us. It doesn't mean you have a disability
because you only speak English.
regular basis.
Public figures are helping bring forward issues that are relevant to the disability
community. Celebrities such as the late Christopher Reeves (Spinal Cord Injury),
Michael J. Fox and Mohammad Ali (Parkinson's Disease), Neve Campbell (brother with
Tourette Syndrome), Annette, Funicello, and the late Richard Pryor (Multiple Sclerosis)
have become leaders in speaking out to the needs of people with disabilities. However,
this is not enough, every day people need to make an effort to learn about the
differences and the similarities that we all share, regardless of our ability or disability.
Here are some quick tips:
Always use "people first" terminology. That is, refer to the person not their disability or
technology. A person has quadriplegia, they are not a "quad". The simple rule of
"people first" will help you go a long way in proper etiquette within the disability
community, but don't go to great lengths to avoid saying it like it is. A person is Blind,
they may be Deaf, or they may be someone who uses a wheelchair.
Use positive terminology. A person is not confined to his/her wheelchair. The
wheelchair gives that person the freedom to move about. Instead, refer to the person
as using a wheelchair.
Although, in both cases this can vary depending on the individual. It is acceptable for a
person with a disability to reference him/herself as a "quad", but the same courtesy does
not extend to the general public. As with many social groups, self-labeling is acceptable
if you are a part of the community. For example, there is a travel site on the Internet
called "gimp on the go". This site is dedicated to providing travel information to people
with mobility related disabilities. While the site's editor (Adam Lloyd) uses this term, he
himself is a person living with quadriplegia.
Also, a person using a wheelchair may refer to being confined to their chair if the
circumstance is recent or sudden and they are feeling a loss of the mobility they once
had, for example a person who was in a car accident.
A diagnosis tells you nothing about a person with a disability. There are many people
who are classified as being legally blind, but have the ability to see (shapes,
shadows/light, or close up). Some people refer to being Deaf, but are actually hard of
hearing. Two people with Cerebral Palsy will present themselves very different from one
another. Some people with Cerebral Palsy require a wheelchair for mobility, others are
capable of walking on their own, or with support from a cane, crutch, or walker.
When interacting with a person with a disability, respond to their need, not their
diagnosis. For example, when meeting with a person who is blind, your challenge may
be ensuring that they have access to reading materials. Accessible reading materials
may be in electronic format, Braille, or large print. You'll need to know which is best for
the individual. How can you possibly know? Ask!
Not everyone with a disability uses a wheelchair. That might seem like common sense,
but I have met with fairly intelligent people who hired me to perform a focus group on a
sample of their clients who were deaf and blind, but the questions they gave me in
preparation of developing my interview questions all had to do with wheelchairs. Now
that's not to say that a person who is blind or who is deaf may or may not use a
wheelchair, but don't assume that because they have a disability that the wheelchair is
part of the package.
It is not uncommon for a person with a disability to have more than one type of disability.
Recognize a person's autonomy and their rights. Do not assume that a person with a
disability needs or wants help. Just because it takes someone a little longer to put on
their coat or tie their shoe laces does not mean they need assistance. Remember, while
it may seem slow or tedious to you, that is how the person normally performs the task.
But if you want to help, ask. And, if you offer and they accept, but you are uncertain
what to do, ask how you can help.
Address the person directly. If a companion is traveling with them, do not speak to the
companion as if the person with a disability is not there. Don't be afraid to ask the
person to repeat something if you don't understand. Depending on the disability, it
might take a few attempts, or you may have to find an alternate way of communicating.
But don't lose out on the opportunity to get to know a person just because you're afraid
you might say or do the wrong thing.
If the person uses some form of technology, remember, that this is personal space -- an
extension of who they are. Do not lean on, or sit in a person's wheelchair if it is empty.
Do not, read the screen of a communication device until the person using the device is
ready to share their thoughts with you.
Have you given thought as to what is a disability? Does a person who uses a wheelchair
have a disability? I'll admit the most likely answer is "yes". But then again, by definition
does a disability exist if that person is capable of doing everything he or she wishes?
What about a person who smokes? No, smoking isn't a disability. The addiction to
nicotine may be. And the limitation to walking as a result of prolonged smoking definitely
creates a disability.
The census information that we work from that gives us the number of people with a
disability is all based on self-diagnosis. How a person classifies their disability is
personal. Some people with what you and I would consider as having a disability might
not see it that way themselves. Look at the elderly. Would your grandmother consider
herself to have a disability? Yet, can she walk a city block without resting, or can she
climb a flight of stairs without getting short of breath? Can she read the print in the
newspaper? How about you? Do you wear glasses? Do you consider yourself to be
disabled? What happens if you lose your glasses?
The Deaf Community is a good example of "controversy" on labelling a person. Most
people within the Deaf (capital "d") Community do not consider themselves to having a
disability. After all, how difficult will it be for us to communicate if I only communicate in
Spanish and you only communicate in English? Is that any different if I communicate
using American Sign Language (ASL) and you communicate using English? Its
language (communication) that separates us. It doesn't mean you have a disability
because you only speak English.
| People First |
| We are continuously updating this site. If you have suggestions or questions please email us at info@sterlingfrazer.com |
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| Word Choice |
| Group designations such as the “the blind”, “the retarded” or “the disabled” are inappropriate because they do not reflect the individuality, equality or dignity of people with disabilities. Words like “normal person” imply that the person with a disability isn’t normal. A better way to differentiate between the two groups is to refer to a person with a disability versus a person without a disability. |
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