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Interacting with people with disabilities may be a challenging task for some caregivers. Some persons from this group would knowingly or unknowingly react to their surrounding stimuli either through calm expression of emotions or an expression which is mostly dominated with irritability.
The care provider is expected to have a broader range of understanding when dealing with these groups of persons and patience in dealing with their various responses. Aside from the challenging difficulties, there are also some instances where the idea of dealing and interacting with them creates a room for fear and hesitation, thinking that they might get upset over a word said or things done.
Below are some approaches which can help in establishing a better interaction with persons with disabilities:
- Putting yourself in their position. The best way to understand them is to picture yourself out to be in their situation. You will realize how it feels under such undertakings and value any form of help extended by another individual.
- Know and understand that these persons did not choose to acquire their disabilities. Some might be born with it while others obtained it through accidents or some other factors. Their conditions have somehow affected their daily routines wherein they no longer have the ability to perform some of the daily activities like they used to.
- Try to think of these people as someone dear to you or whom you knew. This will give you the idea on what you should do in cases where either a friend or a family member is experiencing the same situation, thus eliciting further affection and understanding.
- Be patient. Don’t rush the person in front of you who is slowly taking his pace because you never know what that certain individual is experiencing and he might just have some disabilities which hinder quick execution of movements.
- Give way. When you see someone who has any form of disability, move out and give him the necessary space for his course.
- Offer assistance. Politely ask if the person with disability need any sort of assistance or help. If he will accept the offer then don’t hesitate to render it according to your capability. However, don’t keep on pushing or forcing if the person himself firmly declines the offer.
- Treat them with respect. In any form of approaches you render towards these groups of people, always associate it with respect. They may be experiencing disabilities but this doesn’t make them any less human who are capable of getting hurt when treated unfairly.
Interacting with people with disabilities may be a challenging act but the feeling of being able to help someone in need is far more rewarding.