A Quiz about Interacting with People with Disabilities ADA Trainer Network Module 2f What Would You Do? A Quiz about Interacting with People with Disabilities Please include the trainer’s name, title, and agency on the title slide where indicated by the placeholder text. This module is intended to improve participants’ comfort and effectiveness when interacting with individuals with disabilities. It includes a very short quiz that works well with the Disability Awareness modules in the ADA Trainer Network Modularized Curriculum. Trainer’s Name Trainer’s Title Phone Email/Web Page
Disclaimer Information, materials, and/or technical assistance are intended solely as informal guidance, and are neither a determination of your legal rights or responsibilities under the ADA, nor binding on any agency with enforcement responsibility under the ADA. The Northeast ADA Center is authorized by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) to provide information, materials, and technical assistance to individuals and entities that are covered by the ADA. The contents of this document were developed under a grant from the Department of Education, NIDRR grant number H133 A110020. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
Let’s Take A Little Quiz! Explain that this short quiz will give participants a chance to think about how they might effectively interact with people with disabilities. As the facilitator, read the question on the slide to the group and let them guess the answer. The correct answer is written in your facilitator’s notes under each slide and in the Facilitator’s Guide for this module.
True or False? The terms “the disabled” and “people with disabilities” are roughly equivalent FALSE “People with disabilities” is more respectful because it illustrates “Person-First” language by identifying them as people first rather than identifying them by their disability. The main difference between the two terms is that in the latter, the person comes first and is modified, but not solely identified, by their disability. “The disabled” focuses on disability first, which can mistakenly imply that their disability is the primary or most important quality about them.
When a person who is deaf or hearing impaired asks you to repeat a statement, you should: Repeat the statement Repeat the statement in a louder voice Repeat the statement more slowly Rephrase the statement A. Repeat the statement The most appropriate response is to repeat yourself — like you would with anyone! If they still have trouble understanding, you then try other strategies. For example, if the person reads lips, it may help if you can rephrase your statement more succinctly using words that may be easier for them to lip-read. 5
True or False? When communicating with someone with cerebral palsy, it is important to take your time explaining things to them because this disability not only hinders their physical movements but also their ability to process information quickly FALSE: It is not necessarily true that cerebral palsy has an effect on someone’s mental capabilities. More often than not this disability affects only their body movement and muscle coordination, not their ability to understand information.
When meeting someone who does not appear to have use of their right hand, it is proper etiquette to: Offer your left hand Wait for him/her to initiate contact Offer your right hand as you would with anyone B. Wait for them to initiate contact In most cases, it is appropriate to wait for the person to initiate and then follow suit. However, as with anyone, what’s most important is that you acknowledge the other person. Make eye contact, smile, and talk with them- not at them.
True or False? It is rude to use expressions such as “I see what you mean” when interacting with someone who is blind FALSE: It is not rude to use common expressions such as “I see what you mean” when interacting with people who have visual impairments including those who are blind. This expression is really more an expression of understanding another person’s point of view, which is certainly something that people who are blind can do.
Things to keep in mind… The disability community is one that any one of us can become a member of at any time. Act naturally! Treat everyone as an equal. People with disabilities sometimes refer to people without disabilities as “temporarily able-bodied” because anyone of us can enter this minority group at any time. A car accident, a stroke, the aging process; all these can change your life – often instantaneously! It’s important to treat people as people. Try not to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing. In most cases, people with disabilities will set you straight if you say or do something that falls outside of accepted etiquette.
Employment and Disability Institute Northeast ADA Center Employment and Disability Institute Cornell University Dolgen Hall Room 201 Ithaca, New York 14853-3901 Toll-Free : 800.949.4232 (NY, NJ, PR, USVI) Telephone 607.255.6686 Fax 607.255.2763 TTY 607.255.6686 Email northeastada@cornell.edu Web www.northeastada.org The contents of this presentation were developed under a grant from the Department of Education, NIDRR grant number H133 A110020. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Conclude by reminding participants that the training materials were produced by the Northeast ADA Center in collaboration with the National ADA Network. Remind them of the free and confidential technical assistance and other services available from your local ADA Center and from the ADA Centers throughout the country.