General Disability Etiquette – Respectful Communication

Be patient and give extra time. If you don’t understand, ask for clarification.

Do: Allow people with disabilities time to respond or finish their sentences. Don’t rush them. If someone with a speech impairment is speaking, be patient and ask them to repeat themselves if necessary.

Don’t: Interrupt or finish their sentences for them. Or pretend you understand if you don’t – instead ask again.

These “Think Again” reminders are courtesy of ILICIL Independent Lifestyles, Inc. in Sauk Rapids Minnesota.

UPCOMING EVENTS JUST FOR YOU!

BRIDGING COMMUNITIES – ADA CELEBRATION
July 25, RIVERFRONT PARK, SPOKANE

Celebrating the 36th anniversary of the ADA with a multicultural, fully accessible event for the whole family. Free food, guest speakers, live music, kids zone, resource fair and new this year the Wheelchair Obstacle Course. Located by the fountain off Howard Street

Find more accessible events at here.

Did U Know?

For most of U.S. history, disabled people were institutionalized, excluded from public life, and had no legal recourse for discrimination? “Ugly Laws” in many cities actually made it illegal for people with visible disabilities to appear in public – some of those laws stayed on the books until the 1970’s!

ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES

“I’m reading a horror novel in Braille. Something bad is going to happen—I can feel it!”!

QUOTES TO MAKE YOU THINK

“Let’s stop “tolerating” or “accepting” difference, as if we’re so much better for not being different in the first place. Instead, let’s celebrate difference, because in this world it takes a lot of guts to be different. “

~ Kate Bornstein