How to Interact With an Individual With Developmental Disabilities

People with developmental delays have a lot to offer friends.

Many people do not have a lot of experience interacting with developmentally disabled individuals. You may feel awkward, afraid of not saying the right things or be unsure of the specifics of a disabled person's condition. You do not want to treat someone as more disabled than she is, and you do not want to seem dismissive of her problems. The good news is that disabled individuals and their families and caregivers have much more experience dealing with others than others have dealing with them. The main points you should remember are to treat the disabled person openly, kindly and honestly.

Instructions

1. Practice courteous behavior and tactfulness by not being overly curious about the nature and cause of the disability. Many developmentally disabled people tolerate polite questions about their disability, but some will not feel open about it. However, if you provide care for any disabled person, you must learn about his disability, and so you will have to ask politely while protecting his confidentiality.

2. Listen and talk to her. You may have to adjust your conversational style as she may not understand or be able to practice good communication skills. She may need prompting, reminders or given help to engage in conversation. She might have problems understanding facial expressions, sarcasm and humor. Use plain language and say what you mean.

3. Set clear boundaries for yourself and him. A delayed person may have trouble understanding the normal societal boundaries that most of people follow. He may be overly physically affectionate, or too receptive to strangers. If she is an adult, she may have trouble understanding attraction and appropriate sexual behavior. You must have clear boundaries that you can explain simply and clearly to, such as, "Tickling me is not appropriate." You may have to repeat these directions often.

   However, hugging and other socially acceptable shows of affection should be encouraged if you feel comfortable with that, especially if she has trouble expressing herself verbally.

4. Encourage her to show you her capabilities. The term developmental disability covers a wide array of conditions, and even people with the same condition can exhibit a range of ability. Try not to have preconceived notions about his capabilities, and adjust your approach accordingly.

References

• College Of Applied Health Sciences: University Of Illinois: Teaching Students With Disabilities
• University Of Cambridge Disability Resource Centre: Teaching Disabled Students