The other day, as my dog guide and I walked to the mail drop box, we passed three playing children. One piped up, “Are you the blind lady?”
Ignoring an older girl’s attempt to shush him, I said, “Yes, I’m blind, and I’m left-handed, too.”
“So am I,” another child said. We discovered that in our little gathering were two left-handers, two right-handers, and one right-pawed.
Naturally curious, children are great models for being themselves among those with disabilities. Most people with disabilities will not mind answering a child’s question. Children scolded by a parent for asking or a parent’s apologizing for children or moving them away from a person with a disability can make children think there is something “bad” or wrong about having a disability. It can also teach children that something is bad about themselves being curious. Sometimes, a parent or adult friend can bridge a conversation, saying “We were wondering about that tool you are wearing on your hand.”
1. Remember that people with disabilities are people first like anyone else. The disability is only one part of who the person is. The rest of the conversation will take care of itself. Besides, you will avoid the embarrassing pause while puzzling about current “politically correct” words. Just use ordinary language, rather than stumble for other words to compensate for “see” or “hear.”
2. When welcoming a person at church, shake whatever the person offers: a hand, foot, prosthesis, or hook. It is the greeting and contact that count.
3. When starting a conversation with a person with severe loss vision, speak the person’s name as a clue to whom the conversation is directed. Identify not only yourself, but also any others with you.
4. Relax. If you do not know what to do or say, allow the person who has a disability to help put you at ease. Explore mutual interests in friendly ways. The person likely has many interests besides those connected with the disability.
5. Give whole, unhurried attention to the person who has difficulty speaking. Keep your manner encouraging rather than ~correcting. Rather than talk for the person, give help when needed. When necessary, ask questions that require short answers, a nod, or a shake of the head.
6. If a person uses a wheelchair, sit down, if possible, so that you are both at eye level.
7. Speak clearly and slowly to the person who has a hearing impairment or other problem in understanding. To make it easier for the person to read your lips, face the person, keep your hands away from your mouth, and speak normally. Remember that people who are deaf count on facial expressions and gestures for communication.
8. Treat adults as adults. Call the person by first name only when the familiarity is extended to all others present.
Your welcoming suggestions are always welcome.
Reading the Signs is a can-do forum about accessibility for the whole church family edited by the Rev. Dee Brauninger, First Congregational UCC, Burwell, Nebraska
