Eight Ways to Help People With Disabilities

Eight Ways to Help People With Disabilities

People with disabilities, no matter how old or young they are: to feel a part of it. Every person on the planet, particularly those with disabilities, needs to feel like they are part of a community and integrated.

It’s easy to fall into a pit of despair and believe that you don’t matter when life doesn’t give you that sense of belonging. We all matter, then; regardless of our disability, gender, or age.

We have been taught by society that we do not belong if we are different. Different people are shunned by society; who, if you will, do not conform to the ideal “mold.”

In the United States, an estimated 48.9 million people are disabled in some way. That amounts to nearly 50 million people who are deserving of the same care and support as the rest. You can help people with disabilities in six ways:

1) Set high but reasonable expectations for people with disabilities.

The society wants us to believe that people with disabilities need to be cared for and watched over constantly. Although every disability is unique, this is typically not the case.

People with disabilities continue to receive low expectations from society, and over time, the vast majority of people have adopted this viewpoint. People with disabilities also experience this, and they begin to set low expectations for themselves.

Setting high, if normal, expectations for people with disabilities is one of the best ways to help them. Make them feel like you are their equal.

2) Instruct yourself

It’s basically as simple as finishing a Google search! You don’t have to go to the library or take classes; Simply by entering a few words into Google, you can access thousands of articles.

You only need to know the fundamentals to be an expert. Discover a little bit about the positive, negative, and ugly aspects of a particular disability.

Ask them in person if you are comfortable doing so. You can only learn so much from the internet. Since each disability is unique to the person who has it, you should ask them if they are comfortable talking about it.

Find out what they are able to do now and what they would like to be able to do in the future by asking them about it.

3) Don’t make any assumptions

You’ve heard the advice about not making assumptions. Don’t assume you know if you feel it’s appropriate to inquire about someone’s disability.

Because they easily fit into the “mold” of society, many disabilities go unnoticed. When someone does not have a disability, making the assumption that they do is the most awkward thing you can do.

4) Be a good listener

This is important at all stages of life, but it’s especially important when helping people with disabilities.

Although it is commonly held that people with disabilities are unable or unwilling to interact with others, this is not always the case. Although you may need to acquire their communication style and adapt accordingly, listening is such an essential quality.

They will begin to feel included and important when you truly open yourself up to them and listen to them; begin to feel desired. To have a happy life, these three things must be done.

5) Be welcoming and inclusive

Even though this ties into the previous point, it’s still important to remember. You don’t need to be companions with everybody and make a special effort to invest energy with them. Pity should not be associated with being inclusive. We are not trying to make friends with anyone, but make sure your friends and acquaintances who have disabilities can participate in group activities. Simply inquire of them if you are unsure if they are able to! Asking them questions can alone help them feel included.

6) Be a good support system

Everyone can succeed if they have a reliable group of people to turn to. While people with disabilities may require support in a different way than you do, they require it nonetheless. Learn about yourself and how you can be a reliable support system. Depending on the disability, a good support system may look different.

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