Communicating & Interacting with Customers with Disabilities
Intellectual or developmental disabilities are those characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behaviours, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. Some persons with intellectual or development disabilities learn and process information more slowly and may have difficulty with abstract concepts or interacting easily with other people.
Tips
Here are some strategies on communicating and interacting with someone with an intellectual or development disability.
Remind yourself to be patient.
Speak more slowly and leave pauses for the person to process your words.
Use plain language and avoid jargon.
Speak directly to the person.
Ask one question at a time, giving the person time to formulate and give their reply.
Make sure the person understands what you’ve said. You can be direct and ask, “Do you understand this?”
Did You Know?
Many people think that communicating with someone with a disability is complicated or requires special skill. More often than not, providing accessible customer service can be achieved through basic, simple solutions.
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