Disabilities

Let's now turn to different disabilities. First, though, some general points:

There are over 8 million people in the UK who are registered as disabled. You meet some of them every day.

Disability is a catch-all term for all sorts of human situations. We'll look at a few presently, but we cannot cover them all, but if you want to know more about conditions not covered here, there are links in the Resources section at the end of the Package.

There is a huge variety in the way people experience and manage a disability, and in some cases, multiple disabilities. It's also important to remember that there are degrees of disability: not many people are totally blind, for instance, but there are very many with some degree of sight impairment.

Medical conditions often change. Some may be temporary, e.g. broken bones. Others may be progressive, e.g. vision impairment due to diabetes. Others again may fluctuate, e.g. clinical depression. So don't expect the same person to be the same every time you see him or her.

It's very easy to patronise people without meaning to. So, watch your language! There are fashions about words to describe people with disabilities and their situation. But don't worry about fashions; the important thing is to be sensitive about the person you are dealing with.

And be careful about your body language. It's too easy to give away signs of impatience or frustration. Try to radiate calmness. Don't invade private space without permission. It is important to maintain eye contact and to smile. But bear in mind that this may not always be appropriate - if you sense that the person is uncomfortable, then break off the contact.

People with a disability usually have a clear idea of what help they need, but feel free to offer appropriate help sensitively.

It's important to allow enough time to provide a proper service. Of course this may not be always possible, for instance if you're faced with long queues. It may be helpful to refer the person on to someone who can deal with them at greater length. It may be that another colleague, or your Departmental Representative, or staff in the Disability Resource Centre can negotiate future time slots when more attention can be given- see names on the Contacts page.

It's rarely necessary to raise your voice. In fact it's usually counterproductive.

Finally, and maybe most important of all, people who have a disability are people first.