Media & Disability

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• 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
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Guide on media & disability

Communicating with Disabled People

Meeting People who are Blind or Visually Impaired

• Identify yourself clearly and introduce any other people present. Clearly indicate where people are located. (In work situations it’s important to do this at the start of a meeting.)
• If speaking in a group it is helpful to identify the name of the person you are speaking to. People should introduce themselves before speaking.
• To shake hands, say “Shall we shake hands?”
• Before offering assistance, ask the individual how you may help. If the person asks for assistance, ask, ”May I offer you an arm?” rather than taking an arm. This enables you to guide, rather than “propel” the person.
• Remember that most people with impaired vision do have some residual sight.
• If you are guiding someone, tell them when steps, stairs, ramps or other obstacles occur, and whether they are up or down.
• When you are offering a seat, guide the person’s hand to the back or arm of the seat, and say this is what you are going to do.
• If leaving someone with a visual impairment in an area unfamiliar to them, inform the person you are leaving and connect them with someone else.
• When entering an unfamiliar area, give a brief description of the layout.
• Where someone might normally take notes, ask if they would like to tape the meeting or conversation.
• Provide written communication in an accessible format and, if possible, in the person’s preferred format, such as floppy disk, in large print, on audio-cassette or in Braille.
• Papers for meetings should be available in advance, including minutes and any papers to be tabled. (These can be emailed if the person concerned uses a computer which has speech related text or is linked to a Braille printer.)