Communicating with people with disabilities

In Vermont, many people with disabilities want to work. These people range in age, education level and severity of disability. Many people have what are called “hidden disabilities” because their disabilities are not obvious when looking at them. These individuals might have a learning disability, an anxiety disorder, chronic pain, a heart ailment or mental illness. The person might be a teenager planning a career for after high school graduation, or a person who experienced a disability later in life after a long work history.

Positive action and language empower. When writing or speaking about people with disabilities, it is important to put the person first, such as, “a person with a disability,” or “an individual with mental illness.” We’ve compiled tips to help understand the best ways to communicate with people with disabilities.

General Tips

• When introduced to a person with a disability, it is appropriate to offer to shake hands. People with limited hand use or who wear an artificial limb can usually shake hands. (Shaking hands with the left hand is an acceptable greeting.)
• If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted. Then listen to or ask for instructions.
• Treat adults as adults. Address people who have disabilities by their first names only when extending the same familiarity to all others.
• Relax. Don’t be embarrassed if you happen to use common expressions such as “See you later,” or “Did you hear about that?” that seem to relate to a person’s disability.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re unsure of what to do.

More tips and suggestions tailored to a variety of common disabilities can be found in our Employer Toolkit, including tips for communicating with Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, and individuals with Mobility Impairments, Speech Impairments, and Cognitive Disabilities.