It’s no secret that all of us are affected by physical appearance. Regardless of their features, it affects most people. It shouldn’t; but it does. But we’re at our best when we get past all that. So here are five other things that shouldn’t be secrets about saying hi to people with disabilities.
Don’t you just love Oliver Platt’s video? We love how we’re let into his home to share the secret of conversing with someone who has disabilities – and to have him let us know that, just like in the Wizard of Oz, we’ve had the power all the time.
In fact, most anyone with disabilities will tell you the only thing you need to know is that they are “not their disability.” It seems obvious. But life is often about getting past what’s obvious.
All of us are affected by physical appearance. Whether someone is strikingly beautiful, short, obese, tall and rail thin — regardless of their features, it affects most people. It shouldn’t; but it does.
But we’re at our best when we get past all that.
So here are five other things that shouldn’t be secrets about saying hi to people with disabilities.
1. People are not their disabilities. No more than you are the color of your eyes.
2. Most people with disabilities don’t mind talking about it, just like you don’t mind talking about some of what makes you who you are. But, for heaven sakes, it’s only part of the story.
3. People who use wheelchairs are used to being in wheelchairs. It’s not new to them and they have preferences in conversations. So feel comfortable asking if they prefer that you stand or kneel.
4. People who use speech devices need time to create their sentences. They know that. In fact, some are quite aware that you’ve got to wait for them and feel awkward about it. Some folks hope you’ll stay focused on them while they’re waiting, some are fine if you text or whatever. Again, there’s no secret: just ask.
5. Finally, if you’re in New York City, you probably don’t want to start a conversation with someone who has disabilities by stating how much you love the Red Sox.