Wondering how to communicate respectfully and meaningfully with children or adults who have special needs? Use this list to guide you.
- When speaking to a child, kneel down to his or her eye level, especially when that child is a wheelchair user. If kneeling down to a child's eye level is physically challenging for you, use a chair.
- Teach your children that the act of staring itself is not wrong, but when staring is prolonged or followed by rude comments, it should be stopped. Staring offers adults a great opportunity to teach children the value of differences.
- Never be afraid to ask questions that will help you to become better educated about individuals with special needs. But leave intrusive and rude questions and comments out.
- If the question feels intrusive to you, it probably is to others as well.
- Don't assume that because someone has physical challenges or uses a wheelchair, they are also mentally challenged. Many individuals using wheelchairs are bright, hard-working individuals who may well lead productive and full lives, even have families and careers of their own.
- Address your questions directly to the person with special needs, not to the person assisting them. Think about how you would feel if someone acted as if you were invisible.
Judy Winter is an award-winning parent and advocate for children with special needs.