Giving Support to Someone with a Disability

While your colleagues and workmates may be fit and able, there may be times when the person you're asked to support has a disability. In the aftermath of stressful incidents, victims, bystanders and those indirectly affected may be one of the estimated 10% to 15% in our community who have a disability which would impact upon their ability to effectively manage when faced with a crisis or emergency. The following points are suggestions to keep in mind if you are asked to assist someone with a disability.

• Always look at the person, not the disability/wheelchair/escort.
• Don't make assumptions about what a person's needs are. Ask the person concerned, not a third party, about his or her needs. Use positive comments, not negative ones. For example, instead of "Can't you do......?" say "Do you need any help with.....?"
• When communicating with people who have a speech impairment, give them time, concentrate on what is being said, and listen to the rhythms of their speech. Don't be afraid to ask for something to be repeated, but try to resist the temptation to finish sentences for them.
• When communicating with people who have a hearing impairment face them and ask if they lip read. If so, speak slowly and clearly, face them all the time, don't raise your voice and avoid covering your mouth.
• When communicating with a person through an interpreter or facilitator, whether for reasons of hearing impairment or other communication needs, always address that person, not the interpreter or facilitator. Do the same when the answer is being relayed to you.
• When talking to someone who is using a wheelchair, try to ensure that your eye levels correspond don't lean on the wheelchair.
• When guiding a person with impaired sight, try not to push or pull them. Ask them how he/she wishes to take hold of you, and verbally warn of hazards, steps, etc as they occur.

Information Source: Civil Protection (Autumn, 1995)