Media & Disability

• Home page
• Presentation
• Presentation
• Partners
• Guide on media & disability
  • Who Created this Guide?
  • Disabled People as Programme Participants
  • Employing Disabled People
  • Access to Broadcast Services
  • Communicating with Disabled People
    • Disability Etiquette
    • Meeting People who are Blind or Visually Impaired
    • Meeting People who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired
    • Meeting People with Speech Difficulties
    • Meeting People with Mobility Impairments
    • Interviews
  • Adjustments and Aids for People Specific Disabilities
  • Glossary of Terms
• Project Development
• Legislation
• Resources
• Interesting Links
• News

Guide on media & disability

Communicating with Disabled People

Communication skills are vital in developing relationships with disabled and non-disabled audiences and employees alike.

Common sense and courtesy tells us:

• Be patient and listen attentively
• Use a normal tone of voice when extending a welcome
• Do not attempt to speak, or finish a sentence, for the person you are speaking to
• Never ask ”what happened to you?” Restrain your curiosity.
• Address a disabled person by their first name only if you are addressing everyone else with the same familiarity.
• Speak directly to a disabled person, even if they are accompanied by an interpreter or companion.
• Never make assumptions about what anyone can do (or cannot do!).

People are increasingly sensitive to the way in which “the language of disability” can inadvertently reinforce negative stereotypes.
Certain words and phrases may give offence. Although there are no concrete rules, it is helpful to understand why some terms are preferred to others. And preferences vary, so if in any doubt be prepared to ask the individual.

Most people who see disability as an equality issue strongly prefer the term “disabled people” since this best reflects the view that people with impairments or medical conditions are disabled by a society that fails to remove unnecessary obstacles. Some disabled people prefer the term “people with disabilities” because it puts the person first. Other disabled people may not see themselves as disabled at all, even though they may be defined as such legally – including those who are deaf from birth and use Sign Language, those with a long-term medical condition or those who have experienced mental illness.

A few general pointers:

• A disabled person is not defined by his or her impairment. Nobody wants to be given a medical label.
• Labels say nothing about the person; they simply reinforce the stereotype that disabled people are “sick” and dependent on the medical profession.
• References such as “an epileptic” or “a diabetic” are dehumanizing. If you need to refer to a person’s condition, say a person who has epilepsy or diabetes.
• Do not be embarrassed about using common expressions that could relate to someone’s impairment, for example, “See you later” or “I’ll lend you a hand.”
• Avoid using language that suggests disabled people are always frail or dependent on others, or which could make disabled people objects of pity, such as “sufferers from” or “ a victim of”.
• Do not use collective nouns such as “the disabled”, “the blind” or “the disfigured”. These terms imply people are part of a uniform group that is somehow separate from society.