Disability Awareness and Effective Communication Techniques Robin A. Bell, S.S.P., N.C.S.P. Nationally Certified School Psychologist Director, Office of Disability Services Nicholls State University [email protected].
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Disability Awareness and Effective Communication Techniques
Robin A. Bell, S.S.P., N.C.S.P.
Nationally Certified School Psychologist Director, Office of Disability Services Nicholls State University [email protected]
Why are we here?
Compliance with Federal Law
As an institution that receives funding from the Federal Government, NSU is
mandated
to follow it’s laws.
American’s with Disabilities Act
(ADA) is one of those laws.
Today’s Objectives
1. Learn about
who
are our students with disabilities 2. Reflect on how
we
want to be treated by others and whether it’s any different for individuals with disabilities 3. Take a look at how we
communicate
and
interact
with others
Who Are People With Disabilities?
• • • • People with disabilities are first and foremost
PEOPLE
just like you and me They are typically
ordinary individuals
seeking to live ordinary lives They have
DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS
One out of every five individuals in the United States has a disability
Insight Into the Lives of Exceptional People with Disabilities
• http://youtube/bJ1rc58PJfg
All we need is a little …
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYbs_O_i MfU
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me”
• • • “That I matter” Leslie, a grad student from Ville
Platte, La
“That someone cares about me”. Chadlyn, a
freshman from Port Sulphur, LA
“That I’m valued”. Kevin, a freshman from Kenner,
LA
How do we show respect to others?
Through our : 1.
Verbal Communication ( 7%) 2.
Nonverbal Communication (55%) 3.
Paraverbal Communication (38%)
Sometimes we let the disability get in the way of communicating with the
person
- we fail to connect interpersonally and never get to know them or see their strengths
Barriers to Communicating with Others
Decrease
Fear and Anxiety
By gaining knowledge and experience
Verbal Communication
• • • Positive language empowers. When writing or speaking about people with disabilities, it is important to put the person first (
PERSON FIRST LANGUAGE
) Group designations such as "the blind," "the retarded" or "the disabled" are inappropriate because they do not reflect the individuality, equality or dignity of people with disabilities words like "normal person" imply that the person with a disability isn't normal, whereas "person without a disability" is descriptive but not negative.
Nonverbal Communication
• Proxemics (personal space): the area around us that makes us feel comfortable.
It’s typically 1 ½’-3’ • Kinesics (body language):body posture in motion – facial expressions, gestures, eye contact
Paraverbal Communication
• How we say what we say without the words There are three components: 1. TONE: the inflection we put on words that change their meaning
2. VOLUME:
should be appropriate for the setting
3. CADENCE:
Rate and rhythm of speech
• • • • • • • •
When speaking with students with visual impairments:
Offer your help if student appears to need it Use a gentle touch on the elbow to indicate to a visually impaired student that you are speaking to them Allow visually impaired individuals you’re walking with to take your arm rather than taking theirs Avoid shouting when speaking to students. “Blind” doesn’t mean deaf Direct questions to those with the visual disability, not their companion. Do not pet guide dogs Do not avoid words like “see,” “look” or even “blind” if they fit. Mention your name when meeting students with visual disabilities, as it can be difficult to recognize voices.
• • • • •
When meeting with students who are deaf or hard of hearing:
speak as clearly and distinctly as possible Speak while facing hard-of-hearing students directly Be expressive in your body language, gestures and facial expressions Ask the individual to repeat themselves if you are having trouble understanding their speech Speak directly to the deaf individual, not their interpreter or companion
When talking to those with mobility issues:
• • • • Offer your help, but wait until it is accepted before providing it. Acknowledge that a disability exists, but do not ask questions regarding students’ disabilities unless you have a close relationship.
Talk directly to students when addressing them, rather than directing questions or comments to their companions, if there is one. Don’t treat students with mobility issues as if they are sick.
• • • • • •
When meeting with students with cognitive disabilities:
be clear and specific in your language. Concrete language is best. Lengthy directions can be condensed into short steps. Present oral information at a slow pace, using frequent pauses in your speech to allow for processing time.
Offer cues to help students with transitions. For example, saying “We’ll be going to lunch in five minutes” provides a good heads-up of what’s about to happen.
Use images to reinforce information whenever possible. Employ modeling, rehearsing and role-playing to help students learn appropriate interactions.
Ask if students need help if it appears that way but you are unsure.
In closing…
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4A nWyk