Disability Etiquette Tips
The following piece on disability is an excerpt from the United Spinal Association’s “Tips on Interacting With People With Disabilities.” These tips are designed to help you understand what to do and what not to do when in the company of a person with a disability.
People With Cerebral Palsy
As a result of injury to the Central Nervous System, people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have difficulty controlling their muscles. Many people with CP have slurred speech and involuntary body movements. Your impulse may be to discount what they have to say, based on their appearance. Monitor your responses and interact with the person as you would with anyone else.
Follow the tips in our previous newsletter for interacting with persons who have speech disabilities. People who may appear sick, drunk or to have a medical emergency might in fact, have CP or another disability. Get the facts before acting on your first impression, whether the situation is business, social or law enforcement.
Tourette Syndrome
People with Tourette syndrome may make vocalizations or gestures such as ticks that they cannot control. A small percentage of people with Tourette syndrome involuntarily say ethnic slurs or obscene words. An employee or other person with Tourette syndrome will benefit from the understanding and acceptance of co-workers and others.
If a person with Tourette makes vocalizations during a conversation, simply wait for him or her to finish, and then calmly continue. The more a person tries to contain these urges, the more the urges build up. It may be helpful for a person with Tourette to have the option to leave the meeting or conversation to release the build up in a private place.
From Spring 2008 Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 2
