The languages used in interacting with different groups of people differ and must be carefully executed so as to not offend the other party. Many people are not aware of the right terms and language to use when speaking with people with disabilities. They don’t know that some of the things they say are offensive and hurtful. This article seeks to point out the right and wrong language or words used when interacting with people with disabilities.
Speaking in a demeaning manner
When interacting with persons with disabilities, it is only reasonable to not speak to them like they are the gum under your shoe. From the tone of your voice to your facial expression and body language, it is only right to speak to them like you would any other person.
Don’t talk down on them or shun them when they want to give their input on anything. Be polite, respectful, and not condescending. Do not refer to them using demeaning or degrading words like mumu, didirin, olodo, weirdo, freak, crazy or any other terms that are hurtful to human beings. Don’t patronise them or treat them any less human than they are.
Persons with disabilities
When relating with persons with disabilities, you need to remember that they are people, not disabilities. They are human and should be referred to as such. Although many people are not aware of this because they do not think it is offensive, referring to persons with disabilities by their disability rather than their humanity is degrading and hurtful. An instance is referring to a person who cannot see as a blind person (e.g. This is my friend Tope; she is a blind person). Here, you called Tope blind before you called her a person— disability before humanity. The better way to say this is; This is my friend Tope; she is a person with visual impairment. Notice how people with disabilities are referred to as that rather than ‘disabled people’, exactly!
Show respect
Giving respect to people should not be mutually exclusive to a gender, race or disability. Every human deserves to be respected regardless of anything. When interacting with people with disabilities, respect should not be far from you. Speak to them with respect, respect their boundaries and personal space and do not act like you are more privileged than they are.
If you want to ask them questions about their disabilities, do so with respect and ask them if it is okay to ask about it before you do. Give respect to yourself and every other human being. Give respect to people when you are interacting with them.
Enough with the sympathy
Most people with disabilities have already adapted to their way of life. The fact that you stumbled upon them does not mean they became persons with disabilities 2 seconds ago. Although empathy is sometimes appreciated, sympathy tells the person you are talking to that you perceive them as weak and unable to live. Many people mistake empathy for sympathy.
Empathy is having a feeling of understanding towards some circumstances, while sympathy is having feelings of sorrow or pity toward the situation. They do not need your pity and you don’t need to look at them like they are a broken china doll.
There is nothing wrong with putting yourself in their shoes but it becomes wrong when the next thing that comes out of your mouth is a sentence starting with ‘if I were you’.
Interacting with people with disabilities is not as hard as you think it is. Simply speak to them exactly how youwould speak to every human. They are not broken or different. It still stands that they are human and nothing less.
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