I love to talk to strangers and wanted to know how to better communicate with those with disabilities. 

What's the proper etiquette for communicating with others in wheelchairs, those with speech difficulties or cognitive impairments, or people with hearing or vision loss?

The Disability Rights and Resource Center has some thoughtful tips, like when speaking to a person in wheelchair, if the conversation lasts more than a few minutes, sit down or kneel to get yourself on the same level as the person in the wheelchair. When speaking to a person who has a speech difficulty, if you don’t understand them don’t pretend to. Repeat as much as you do understand, the persons reaction will guide and clue you in. When communicating with someone with a cognitive impairment one suggestion is to use a calm voice and be re-assuring, use short sentences and simple concrete words. If you’re with someone who has hearing loss, look directly at the person and speak slowly and expressively. If they wear a hearing aid keep in mind hearing aids increase volume not clarity of words. Use sign language if you and the person are familiar with it. You’ can find more ‘Disability Etiquette Tips’ on drrcva.org.

Meanwhile, I had been thinking about this subject on the very night I happened to catch Tom Willis, born without arms, throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium with his feet, marking the 29th MLB ballpark in which he’s thrown a first pitch.

Tom learned to use his ABILITIES to offset his disability. Tom is the President and Founder of the Pitch for Awareness National Tour. He’s pitching his message of the awareness of the abilities of persons with disabilities. He’s a powerful keynote motivational speaker who says … ‘No Hands - No Arms- No Problem” . Tom meets with people who want to turn Obstacles into Opportunities, Challenges into Championships, and make the Impossible … Possible! He says Impossible = I aM POSSIBLE!

I was so inspired and touched by this man and could think of no message more important to post. GO TOM!

While thinking about the subject of how to better communicate with those with disabilities, I also wanted to shine a light on a wonderful organization called ‘Positive Exposure’ which is building a more equitable, compassionate world for individuals and communities at risk of stigma and exclusion.

I invited ‘Positive Exposure’ Founder an award-winning photographer, Rick Guidotti to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show today to get his take on how best to communicate with those with disabilities.

Rick said,” We all share the same need: The need to be seen. The need to be heard. The need to belong”.  

I hope you take a few minutes to listen to Rick Guidotti on this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. It’s meaningful.