General communication strategies Remember that a person with a disability is a person- like everyone else. Speak directly to them not their companion.
{"Image DocumentName": "General communication strategies", "Image ImageDescription": "Remember that a person with a disability is a person- like everyone else. Speak directly to them not their companion. Don\u2019t shout or raise your voice. Be willing to communicate in different ways and to learn how to use new tools for communication. If you don\u2019t know what to do or say, relax and allow the person with a disability to speak/communicate. Take time to listen to their response- this is very important. Be honest, don\u2019t pretend that you have understood them. Ask the person to try again using a different term or ask someone else who knows the person to help out. Remember, as in any conversation, maintain eye contact as you normally would. Remember the person is not sick, so the person should be viewed as healthy. Offer assistance when it\u2019s asked for or if the need seems obvious, don\u2019t overdo or insist on it. Respect the person\u2019s right to indicate the type of help they need. Always talk to the person in an age appropriate manner and especially not as a child. Find out the person\u2019s abilities and the things they like to do as a way of getting to know the person better.", "Image XResolution": "37", "Image YResolution": "37", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Centimeter", "Image Software": "SlidePlayer", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered"}