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Disability Etiquette How to teach your kids about their behavior towards disabled or specially abled person How to treat people with disablities what is that we need to understand about disability before we teach our kids specially abled vikalang disabilities do and dont while treating disabled people

I was once watching the movie Soul Surfer with my then 5-year-old. Story of a young girl surfer who loses her one leg to a shark attack. She bounces back post-healing period. I was amazed by the way her mother, father, two brothers, and best friend supported her. I then realized the importance of a good support system. A system that can be inclusive can nurture such souls to be independent, confident, strong, and positive. Here’s my attempt at that. Of course, my daughter had plenty of questions, she was shocked to see her loss and painful healing period. But today I feel she understands normal is overrated and there is more to it.

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Explain

Start educating that every child is different. Both mental ability and physical can vary. Emphasize the factor that a person’s disability comprises a very small part of the person’s identity. He may be an actor or a father. He shall also have a caring family. He also may have a hobby and everything just like we do. His physical ability in no way can be anyone’s identity.

Regardless of abilities and limitations, every human desires love and acceptance. We, their model, need to start showing it through our deeds. Be very careful not to say that he or she is like her. They definitely have challenges to deal with and it must be acknowledged.

Reading Stories

Books are always the best way to elaborate on a topic to kids. Here’s my recommendation on Best Indian Books to help your child understand people with special ability and their lives.

1. Wings to fly – The story of Para-athlete Malathi Holla 

2. Flute in the Forest – 13 yr old music-loving girl with Polio 

3. Manya learns to roar – Story of a girl with stammering  

4. Catch the Cat – Story of a girl searching her pet on a wheelchair 

Don’ts & Do’s for us to memorize and enact first

1. Don’t Stare 

Smile if need be. The moment we see someone not fitting into our NORMAL we start treating them differently. At a mall someday I remember women of age around 30 staring at another lady with some special ability. The awkwardness on the other lady’s face was so heart-wrenching.

2. Don’t Pity or Underestimate  

They’ve learned to live and yet excel at their lives with it. Your talk and deeds must never pity them. Losing one sense or organ makes many other senses or organs to pitch in at best for them. For example, people who cannot see have the best hearing ability. This helps them lead their lives better. Try and have thought over, how perfect are we? Also never bring in emotions while explaining disability. Terms like how bad, awful, sad will again make way for pity.

3. Don’t Bully or Gossip 

There is a saying “if you can’t say good things, never say bad things”. Trust me it is easy to apply in our lives.

4. Do not use Cruel Terms 

Not handicap but specially-abled. It is a fact that they may be blind, dumb, or deaf – let me shout and say this – they have names too. Very casually at times, we talk that blind fellow, he who can’t hear, etc. Think over.

5. Do not jump to help 

Ask if they really need help. As I already said, they must have already learned the basics of leading a respectful life. Never go overboard and make them embarrassed.

Video: Disability Etiquette – How to treat people with Disabilities

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