how can we deal with disabled people?
2007-03-05 06:58:47 · 6 answers · asked by nourelein1983 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
wow... what a question.... what I know about disability could fill a book...or three... maybe one day I will write that book...
for a start there are no disabled people...you can have a disabled bomb... a disabled computer system... a disabled motor..... but not disabled people...
There are people who have disabilities... but having a disability does not mean you are disabled....
The above is not an argument in syntax it is a statement in fact..
Sympathy is a useless emotion when it comes to dealing with people who have disabilities or anyone else for that matter. Feeling sorry for someone has no benefit for them or you and always comes across as condescending and or PC.And is often sprinkled around like fairy dust by people who have nothing else to offer or fail to see what they do have to offer.
Empathy is a very useful emotion when it comes to dealing with any person whether they have a disability or not. Feeling sorry with someone has benefit for both parties as it requires you to actually relate to the individual person as an individual..
the difference between sympathy and empathy can be demonstrated in these anecdotes from my own life.
Sympathy:
I was pushing my daughter in her wheelchair through a shopping mall and a lady came up to me and told me how sorry she was my child was handicapped. She proceeded to tell me how sorry she is for all handicapped children then began drilling me about what disability my daughter has.........
The lady concerned was very friendly smiled a lot and did really mean well.... but was of no help to herself or me or my daughter...
Empathy:
I took my daughter to visit a school I was proposing to send her to. On introducing her to the school principal he squatted down in front of my daughter and introduced himself to her and shook her hand. From then on he ensured he involved my daughter in the conversation at all times and gave her space and time to respond in her own way at her own pace.
He related directly to my daughter. He positined himself so she could relate to him and he involved her in the conversation.
So if you want to know how to deal with people who have a disability my advice is to deal with the person.... not the disability...
When you meet a person with visual problems relate to the person.... not the visual problems...
When you meet a person who is in a wheelchair relate to the person.... not the wheelchair...
When you meet a person who has a mental illness relate to the person .... not the mental illness...
2007-03-05 07:32:03 · answer #1 · answered by wollemi_pine_writer 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since no one is perfect, everyone has a disability of one sort or another but some disabilities are more readily observable than others. It is best to focus on a person's abilities instead of what we might consider his or her disabilities.
I once knew a girl who was considered mentally retarded while her brother and her sister seemed "normal" ; however, it was the one people labeled retarded who always had a smile and showed nothing but kindness to those she met along the way.
2007-03-05 18:05:02 · answer #2 · answered by Bethany 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I treat disabled people the same way I treat everybody else, yet at the same time always being aware of their disability. I show compassion where and when needed.
2007-03-05 20:28:51 · answer #3 · answered by Grrr! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every time I have tried to be sensitive to the disabled I am either accused of being PC or condescending. I just ignore any disability a person has and let them tell me what they need. If I'm willing to give it, I give it.
2007-03-05 15:02:45 · answer #4 · answered by morrowynd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Treat them as you would anyone else. If they want your help with some thing they will ask.
2007-03-05 15:16:38 · answer #5 · answered by Aliz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
very patiently...
2007-03-05 15:06:24 · answer #6 · answered by Michael K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋