During the course of our everyday lives we encounter people with disabilities:  some visible, some invisible.  The way we refer to people with disabilities can be hurtful.  We may not even be aware that we are doing it or we may want some guidelines to help navigate our interactions with people with disabilities.  How should we treat someone who is in a wheelchair or someone with vision loss?  What about someone who we think has a mental health diagnosis?

FIRST OF ALL:  DESCRIBE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY AS A PERSON FIRST 

One part of including people with disabilities as people first is using "People First Language."  What are we referring to when we ask you to use people first language?  People First Language represents respectful, accurate ways of communicating.  It is not about "political correctness".  We encourage you to adopt new ways of thinking and talking about people with disabilities to encourage you to be a positive influence on the lives of disabled individuals and on our society as a whole.  Here are a few examples:

    Instead of saying:                  Say:

    John is handicapped             John has a disability

    Why:  Because John is more than his disability.  He is a whole person.

     Jane is wheel-chair bound  Jane uses a wheelchair

   Why:  Because Jane is not tied or chained to her wheelchair.  She uses one for mobility.

     Marcy is crazy                        Marcy has a mental 

health condition

    Why:  Because "crazy" is derogatory.  People with lived mental health experience may be sensitive to such language.

     Why:  Because people are more than their disabilities.  They are whole people.  They have disabilities as one of many attributes.

A LITTLE DISABILITY ETIQUETTE

Have you ever wondered how to treat people with disabilities?  Here's a simple clue:  Ask.  Individuality is very important for the disabled community, and if anything is true, it is that we are all individuals.  We all want to be thought of as people who can do.

Please do not touch or lean on a person's wheelchair.  Do not push someone's wheelchair before asking them if it is ok.  A wheelchair is a part of the person's body space.  Please do not use the wheelchair located in the Lounge as a plaything.  It is not.  It is designated for emergencies.

Give specific directions to a person with a disability.  Include distance, obstacles and accessibility.  It is okay to say things like "running along" or "take a walk" to a wheelchair user or to say "do you see what I mean" to a person with vision loss.

When communicating with people with hearing loss, remember to look directly at their face and do not put your hand over your mouth when speaking.  Don't expect all people who are deaf to be able to read lips.

Finally, never assume that a disability is a tragedy.  It is what people make of their lives that is important, whether one does it sitting, without seeing, without hearing or whatever.

ACCESSIBILITIES AND INCLUSION TASK FORCE

The Nugget is brought to you today by the Accessibilities and Inclusion Task Force.  We are currently working on a UUA Project for Certification as an Accessible and Inclusive Congregation.  This Project invites us to look comprehensively at our Building and Grounds and whether we include those people who happen to have visible or invisible disabilities in the full activities of our Congregation.  Other members of the Congregation, whether disabled or not, are welcome to join us in this important Project.  As always, we invite you to speak with any member of our Task Force.  They are:  Dianne Mann (Chair), Susan Crossley, Janet Cutman, Beau Rivers, Judy Savage, Sharon Templeman and Joan Webster.