All persons with disabilities, old and young, desire the same thing: to feel part of society. People with disabilities need to feel integrated and belong. It's easy to become lost in the darkness and feel like you don’t matter when there is no sense or feeling of belonging. We all matter no matter our age or gender or disability. If you are looking for quality disability support services anywhere and under any circumstances, you can find them on disability support Melbourne.
Society has instilled in us the belief that being different is unacceptable. Society rejects anyone who is different. About 48.9 Million Americans suffer from some form of disability. This means that almost 50,000,000 people with disabilities deserve the same love, support, and care as the rest. Here are 6 ways to help people with disabilities.
1) Set high, but realistic expectations
Society wants us to believe people with disabilities require constant supervision and need to be coddled. While every person with a disability may be different, this is generally not the case. People with disabilities are still expected to perform well in society. Over time, this way of thinking has been adopted by many. This extends to persons with disabilities. They also begin setting low expectations for their own lives. Achieving high expectations is one of best ways to help people with disabilities. Let them know that you are there for them.
2) Educate yourself
It's easy to search Google for the information you need. It's not necessary to study or go to the library. You just need to type a few key words into Google and thousands upon thousands of articles will be at your fingertips. Not necessary to be an expert. But you should know the basics. Learn more about the pros and cons of living with a disability.
Ask them in person if they make you feel comfortable. The internet is only able to tell you so much. Each disability is individual. Ask them if there's a time that feels right for them to openly talk about their disability. Ask them to describe what they can do and what it would be like to do in their future.
3) Never assume
They are right about not taking things too seriously. If you feel it is appropriate, ask the person if they have a handicap. But don’t assume you know. Many disabilities are overlooked as they fit in with society's "mold". There is nothing more awkward that assuming someone has disability when they actually don't.
4) Be a good listening person
This could be applicable to any stage of life. However it is essential to listen to people with disabilities. Sometimes it's assumed that people with disabilities don't like to be socially involved with others. But this is not the case. Although it may take some time to understand how they communicate and then adjust, listening is such an important quality. It is possible to truly be open and listen to another person and feel included. These three factors are crucial for a happy lifestyle.
5) Be inclusive.
It is important to keep in mind that this is an extension of the above. You don’t have to be best friends with all people and make time for them. You shouldn't be ashamed to be inclusive. It is not necessary to make friends. However, you should ensure that people with disabilities and friends can take part in group activities. Ask them if they can. Simply asking questions can be enough to make them feel valued.
6) Be a strong support system
If they have a reliable support system, everyone can thrive. Support for people with disabilities is different than that of others. However, they all need support. It is important to educate yourself about how you can support people with disabilities. For people with disabilities, a support system that works well is not the same for everyone.