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People communicate to share information, express their needs, and connect with others. To understand one another and build relationships, it’s important that we listen and respond respectfully. This also applies to people who experience communication challenges due to disabilities; they have as much to say, and as much right to say it, as everyone else.

General Tips

Every disability is different, and people’s communication needs vary widely. However, there are a few basic guidelines for communicating with people with disabilities:

• Be patient: The person may speak slowly or unclearly or need you to repeat what you have said. Allow them to finish their sentence without interruption, even if you think you know what they are going to say. 
• Speak clearly: Try not to mumble, but don’t raise your voice or shout unless specifically asked to do so.
• Address the person: Even if they have an interpreter or caregiver, always address your words to the person. When speaking with someone via an interpreter, pause occasionally to ensure they keep up and continue to translate effectively.
• Ask if unsure: Never assume communication barriers for people with disabilities. If you don’t know a person’s communication needs, just ask. Keep questions relevant to the conversation and avoid being too forward or intrusive.
• Don’t interact with a service animal: Service animals are trained to perform tasks for their handlers, which can range from helpful to life-critical. Distracting these animals can have dangerous consequences.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offer guidance on communicating with and about people with disabilities.

How to Communicate with People with Disabilities

While everyone’s preferences are unique, communication needs are broadly similar for people with certain disabilities. With this in mind, we have gathered the most important advice on communicating with people with disabilities based on our experience with visual impairments, deafness, autism, dementia, and physical difficulties that require a wheelchair.

Communicating with Visually Impaired People

While people with partial or total vision loss can speak and listen as effectively as anyone else, these tips can help you initiate a conversation and communicate in other ways:

• Introduce yourself: Before speaking, it’s polite to announce your presence and that of anyone with you.
• Physical cues: If you know the person is comfortable being touched, lightly tap their arm or hand to get their attention.
• Be specific: When a visually impaired person asks for directions or spatial information, be as clear and specific as possible.
• Offer assistance: If you are walking together, you might like to offer them your arm. Don’t be offended if they decline, since they might prefer to walk by themselves or have a white cane or seeing-eye dog. If they do take your arm, announce your actions and intentions as you go (e.g., “We need to step down from the sidewalk,” “We need to turn left here,” “I’m going to stop because we’re at the crosswalk.”)

Communicating with Deaf People

Talking to someone with a hearing-related disability doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some points to remember next time you are communicating with d/Deaf people:

• Ask how they prefer to communicate: They may speak American Sign Language (ASL), lipread or want to have a written conversation instead. Consider learning some common signs, such as “hello,” “sorry,” and “I don’t understand.”
• Keep your face clear: Try not to touch your mouth or turn away while talking; if they lipread, this makes communication much more difficult. Also, don’t exaggerate your pronunciation, as this can be confusing and actually make your meaning less clear.
• Be patient: Be prepared to repeat yourself or clarify anything you have said, even if they are using hearing aids or communication devices for people with disabilities.

Communicating with Autistic People

Autism can present differently in every individual, given the condition is on a spectrum. Nevertheless, there are some rules of thumb when communicating with autistic people:

• Don’t force eye contact: People with autism can struggle to make eye contact, but this doesn’t mean they are ignoring you. Constantly putting yourself in their eyeline can make them uncomfortable.
• Let them stim: Don’t comment on different stims or ask that they stop. As long as the stim isn’t harmful to themselves or others, it’s an important part of self-regulation and can be a sign that they are enjoying themselves.
• Don’t take offence: Autistic people typically prefer clear, honest communication, which can seem very blunt. Where a neurotypical person might offer a polite lie, someone with autism will likely give their full opinion.
• Be aware of masking: Some autistic people may be accustomed to masking (i.e., mimicking others’ social behavior) to avoid miscommunication. But masking comes with a cost and can lead to overload. Creating a safe space for people to be themselves, such as a sensory room, can reduce the risk of autistic burnout.

Communicating with People with Dementia

Communicating with people with dementia or Alzheimer’s can be especially difficult for family caregivers. A dementia patient may not recognize their loved ones, and the confusion can cause people to act differently. With this in mind, try to follow this advice:

• Identify yourself: Even if the person should know you very well, they may not recognize you or mistake you for someone else.
• Avoid arguing: Rather than correct the person and confuse them further, it’s sometimes better to let them believe you are someone else.
• Ask yes or no questions: Avoid confusing or distressing the person with open-ended questions that require lots of thought.
• Consider a sensory room: Communicating with people with dementia can be easier in a suitable sensory room, where they are calm and relaxed.

Communicating with Someone in a Wheelchair

People may use wheelchairs for a number of reasons and have no communication difficulties whatsoever. However, many wheelchair users report patronizing behavior from non-disabled people. To avoid making the same mistakes, here are some etiquette rules to bear in mind when communicating with someone in a wheelchair:

• Offer assistance: Don’t ignore a wheelchair user who looks as though they are struggling, but accept their answer if they decline help. A key function of a wheelchair is to enable those with mobility challenges to be more independent.
• Speak directly to them: If a wheelchair user is with someone else (whether a caregiver or family member), you should always address them directly. Never speak above their head about them; instead, respect them as an individual with autonomy.
• Don’t touch the wheelchair: Never grab someone’s wheelchair handles or move them without their permission. This is not only dangerous, but the wheelchair is an extension of their body and independence, so it’s no different to being assaulted.

Support to Communicate with Disabled People

One of the most important things to remember when communicating with people with disabilities is to treat them as you would anyone else: with dignity, respect, and patience.

Experia USA offers a range of sensory products designed to help people with disabilities engage with their environment and share their feelings. If you would like to learn more, please get in touch with our expert team today to discuss our sensory solutions or our free sensory room design service.

FAQs

Should I say “person with a disability” or  “disabled person”?

Person-first language (e.g., “person with a disability”) and identity-first language (e.g., “disabled person”) are two different ways to talk about people who have disabilities. Both styles aim to show respect, but different people and communities can prefer one over the other. Since there is no broad agreement on how to communicate with and about people with disabilities, it’s always best to ask the person or people you are interacting with.

How do I communicate with a non-speaking person?

Communicating with a non-speaking person can involve using assistive tools, such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, picture systems, typing on mobile phones, or writing on a whiteboard. Communication devices for people with disabilities allow them to convey their thoughts, feelings, and needs, but still require patience.