End of Semester

Two posts in one day. Whoops!

This semester was great. I learned so much from the materials, my teacher, my classmates, and the kids I was able to work with. I am so grateful for the things I've been able to learn and how much I've been able to grow. I was reading a classmates blog and she had a list of ways to help us interact with people who have disabilities. I would like to share that list here:

More Tips!
1. Ask first. Don’t assume people need help. Ask if they need anything to make the process
more effective or easier for them. They are the experts on their needs and how to best meet
them. If they do request assistance, ask for specific instructions on how you can help. Be
sure to ask if you don’t know what to do or what something means.
2. Keep an open mind. Don’t make assumptions about a person’s abilities. The individual is
the best judge of what he or she can or cannot do. If a person has a speech impairment, don’t
assume that person also has a hearing impairment or intellectual limitations.
3. Be direct. Make eye contact and speak to the person directly, even if their personal care
attendant or interpreter is with them.
4. Speak like yourself. Use your normal volume and pace, unless they ask you to speak
louder or slower.
5. Ask for help. If you don’t understand what someone is saying, ask the person to repeat it or
offer another form of communication (such as paper and a pen or a computer) for
clarification.
6. Be wheelchair-sensitive. If you’re working with someone who uses a wheelchair or
mobility device, don’t lean on it. Also, if you’re speaking with them for a prolonged period
of time, sit in a chair to be at their level. Never start to push someone's wheelchair without
first asking the occupant’s permission.
7. Give visual aid. If you are working with someone who is visually impaired, clearly identify
yourself when you first arrive and be sure to let him or her know when you’re leaving the
conversation or room. Also, offer to read any written information. Give the person your arm
and gently guide him or her if requested. When walking with a person who is visually
impaired, allow that person to set the pace. If the person asks for or accepts your offer of
help, don't grab his arm. It is easier for him to hold onto you.

I also found this website to give a few more insights:

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=32276