The most important thing to remember when communicating with a co-worker with disability is to treat them as an individual.
Basic tips
Consider the following basic tips:
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Avoid asking personal questions about a disability.
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Be considerate of the extra time it might take for a co-worker with particular disability to do or say something.
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Be polite and patient when offering assistance, and wait until your offer is accepted. Listen or ask for specific instructions and be prepared for your offer to be refused.
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Relax. Anyone can make mistakes. Offer an apology if you feel you’ve caused embarrassment. Keep a sense of humour and be willing to communicate.
Tips for face to face communication
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Use a normal tone of voice when welcoming a person with disability. Do not raise your voice unless you are asked to.
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Shake hands even if the person has limited hand use or wears an artificial limb. A left hand shake is acceptable. If the person cannot shake hands, acknowledge them with a smile and a spoken greeting.
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When planning a meeting or other event, think about specific accommodations a person with disability might need. If a modification cannot be made, let the person know ahead of time.
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Look and speak directly to the person, not just to the people accompanying them, including interpreters.
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Don’t patronise or talk down to co-workers with disability. Treat adults as adults.
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Be patient and give your undivided attention, especially with someone who speaks slowly or with great effort.
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Never pretend to understand what a person is saying if you don’t. Ask the person to repeat or rephrase, or offer them a pen and paper.
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If requested to by a co-worker with vision impairment, offer them your elbow to guide (and not propel) them.
Tips when speaking or writing to a person with disability
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Refer to a person’s disability only when necessary and appropriate.
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Refer to the person first, then to their disability (that is ‘person with disability’, rather than ‘disabled person’).
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Avoid terms that imply that people with disability are overly courageous, brave, special or superhuman.
Auslan training
Auslan is Australian Sign Language. If you work with someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing and communicates using Auslan, you may wish to do some training to help you communicate at work.
Case studies and success stories
Find out more about communicating with co-workers with disability: