Top 10 Tips for Communicating

I recently discovered this in a program manual for Project SEARCH, but felt this was a good cheat sheet for all of us on communication skills. Its titled Top Ten Tips for Communicating with People with Disabilities, but truly these are great tips for communicating with everyone, a reminder that we all deserve respect and common decency.

1. Speak Directly

Maintain eye contact with the person with whom you are talking. This is especially important when the individual you are speaking with has an interpreter or personal assistant.

2. Shake Hands

Offer to shake a person’s hand to show respect.

3. Identify Yourself and Others

Communicate your name and the names of those with you.

4. Offer Assistance

Wait until the offer is accepted, then listen or ask for instructions. Don’t assume a person wants assistance and then provide it without asking.

5. Treat Adults Like Adults

6. Respect Adaptation Equipment

Treat wheelchairs, walkers or carts as an extension of the owner’s body and personal space. Don’t lean on equipment or move without asking. Never distract a working service animal.

7. Listen Attentively

Repeat and rephrase what you understand and allow the person to respond. If you don’t understand something they have said, be honest and ask them to repeat.

8. Communicate at Eye Level

Whenever possible, try to communicate at eye level with whom you are speaking, such as sitting down when you are talking with someone in a wheelchair.

9. It’s Ok to Tap or Wave for Attention

But do so politely!

10. Relax

Use common expressions like “taking a walk” with a person in a wheelchair or “seeing a movie” with a blind person. This is part of our language to express an activity and is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Our mission is unchanged and our work is essential.