GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - With the advent of Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) celebrated in November every year, questions of whether society is inclusive, the barriers to inclusion and accessibility are highlighted, but know what to do when interacting with persons with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities include those who have perceived and/or actual impairments (physical, psychosocial, intellectual, neurological and/or sensory) which, as a result of various barriers (attitude, communication, physical or information) are hindered in participating fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others.
It is often very daunting when we interact with persons with disabilities as people do not know what is acceptable, what to say and not to say, what to do and not to do.
Glen Fortuin, community development worker at the Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD), shares some information to sensitise the broader public on these pertinent questions.
- Always speak to the person with the disability and not the person accompanying them.
- Do not push a person’s wheelchair without their permission.
- When talking to a wheelchair user, sit on a chair in order to sit at their eye level.
- If the person is unable to shake your hand, it is acceptable to fist-bump or put your hand on their arm or shoulder.
Photo: Elevate, Unsplash
When speaking to or in the midst of someone who is deaf or hearing impaired:
- Speak one at a time
- Always face the person when speaking to them
- Do not mumble
- Do not cover your mouth
Finally, persons with disabilities are people first and should be treated as people - and that’s the bottom line!!! 
Unfortunately, despite the advances we have made in securing access for persons with disabilities, there is still much to be done as persons with disabilities do not have the freedoms that the rest of us take for granted.
Do you want to make a difference? Contact the APD to arrange a sensitisation workshop for your workplace, ladies’ group, sport club, place of worship or other and be the change! Phone: 044 878 1937 (office) / e-mail: comdev3@apdgeorge.co.za
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