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Things you should and should not do when you support us!
TOP TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD DO WHEN YOU SUPPORT US
*Forget the records. Get to know us as people!
*Listen and hear our voice. We have alot to say.
*Treat as as you want to be treated---with respect and dignity.
*Ask us how we feel about stuff.
*Make it your goal to help us accomplish ours.
*Take time to explain things we do not understand.
*Put yourself in our shoes. Walk our walk.
*Tell us the truth..we can handle it.
*Believe in us and our dreams.
*Be good to yourself--we need you to be healthy and energized.
TOP TEN THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T DO WHEN SUPPORTING US
*Don't think we don't think.
*Don't change your tone of voice when you see us or when we come into a room.
*Don't touch our property or move our equipment without asking us.
*Never ask someone else what we want ("Does she take cream in her coffee?") ASK US!
*Don't make decisions for us.
*Don't have meetings about us without us.
*Don't talk to us in an authoritative way or with a "sing-song" tone of voice.
*Don't discount our abilities.
*Don't think that those of us with disabilities are all the same. We are all different, just like you.
*Don't patronize us.
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEONE WITH SPEECH DIFFICULTY
**Do not shout. We are usually not hearing impaired.
**Do not pretend to understand us if you do not. We will not be offended if you ask us to repeat ourselves.
**Do not assume that because we have a speach impairment, we also have a cognitive impairment. Some of us are college educated!!
**Do not ask our companions to speak for us. If we want them to interpret for us we will ask ourselves.
**DO be patient. It is OK to ask us to repeat ourselves.
**DO feel free to repeat back what we have said to you. That tells us you have understood us.
**If a person has an assisted speach device, ask them to use it if you really cannot understand. That is why we have the device!