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People with disabilities, and those who work on their behalf, are increasingly concerned that negative images of disability ¡V and incorrect assumptions about disabled people ¡V can hamper their progress towards equal opportunities at work.
Employers committed to good practice in the recruitment and career development of disabled people need to be aware that most of the barriers which the latter face are created by the negative attitudes and misconceptions held by society. These barriers are reinforced by small details of language and behaviour which may seem insignificant but which can reaffirm inaccurate assumptions and cause unnecessary offence.
By recognising this, and by understanding the feelings of disabled people themselves, employers can do much to ensure that their disabled employees can compete and flourish on equal terms in the workplace.
"¶Terminology
The British Council of Organisations of Disabled People (BCODP) recommends ¡§disabled people¡¨, but as there are many others who prefer ¡§people with disabilities¡¨ it is best to ask individuals how they wish to be described.
The word ¡§disabled¡¨ should not be used as a collective noun i.e. ¡§the disabled¡¨. It implies a homogenous group separate from the rest of society. We are all individuals: ¡§the disabled¡¨ do not constitute a group apart. Never use ¡§the handicapped¡¨!
"¶ Common courtesies
1.) Offer assistance to a disabled person if you feel like it, but wait until your offer is accepted before you help. Do not assume you know the best way of helping ¡V listen to any instruction you are given.
2.) Treat adults in a manner befitting adults. For example, call a person by their first name only when extending that familiarity to others present. Do not use gestures more suitable for children, such as patting a wheelchair user on the head.
3.) Do not lean on a person¡¦s wheelchair. The chair is part of the body space of the person who uses it.
4.) Make appropriate physical contact with disabled people according to the situation, as you would with any one else. For example, give a handshake or put an arm around the shoulders.
5.) Talk directly to a disabled person rather than through a companion. Relax and make eye contact.
6.) Do not be embarrassed about using common expressions such as ¡§See you later¡¨ or ¡§I¡¦ll be running along then¡¨ which may relate to a person¡¦s impairment.
7.) When planning an event, ask advice from disabled people and advertise accessibility. If access and facilities are not clearly described, disabled people may not risk coming because of previous difficulties.
8.) Do not make assumptions about the existence or absence of disabilities. Some people have hidden disabilities such as diabetes, or mental health difficulties.
"¶ Language
It is important to gain a general understanding of words and phrases which may give offence to people with disabilities. There are no hard and fast rules. Employers should try to keep in touch with disabled people and respect their preferences which may change over time. A few things to remember when talking to a disabled person:
1.) Many disabled people find the word ¡§handicapped¡¨ offensive, as it carries connotations of ¡§cap in hand¡¨. Instead say ¡§person with a disability¡¨ or ¡§disabled person¡¨.
2.) Medical ¡§labels¡¨ are undesirable and often misleading as no two people are alike. Medical labels say little about people as individuals and tend to reinforce stereotypes of disabled people as ¡§patients¡¨, powerless and wholly dependent on the medical profession.
3.) It is dehumanising to refer to a person in terms of condition. Therefore, do not talk about ¡§a spastic¡¨ or ¡§an epileptic¡¨. Instead say ¡§he/she has cerebral palsy¡¨ or refer to ¡§a person with epilepsy¡¨.
"¶ Words to be avoided
Do not use any words or phrases which invite pity, or reinforce impressions of frailty or dependence.
"¨ Do not say: ¡§victim of ... crippled by ... suffering from ... afflicted by ...¡¨
Do say: ¡§person who has ... person with ... person who experienced ...¡¨
"¨ Do not say: ¡§invalid¡¨. This equates disability with illness, and can be construed as ¡§not valid¡¨.
Remember that a wheelchair represents freedom to its user.
"¨ Do not say: ¡§wheelchair bound¡¨ or describe someone as ¡§confined¡¨ to a wheelchair.
"¨ Do say: ¡§wheelchair user¡¨ or ¡§person who uses a wheelchair¡¨.
Remember that there are many degrees of deafness, and different methods of
communicating such as lip-reading or signing. It is important to be accurate
about a person¡¦s degree of deafness and method of communication. For example, some people will have no useful hearing, others will have some degree of useful hearing. Many of these people will have the capacity, with or without a hearing aid, to communicate through speech, listening or lip-reading.
"¨ Do not say: ¡§he/she is deaf and dumb¡¨.
"¨ Do say: ¡§he/she is deaf ¡V partially deaf ¡V deafened ¡V hard of hearing¡¨
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