Dumbing Down Conversations

When I first started at the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta, I will admit that I had very little knowledge of disabilities and specifically about cerebral palsy. I had very little interactions with anyone in a wheelchair or mobility issues, and really wasn't sure how the degree of comprehension some may or may not have. Looking back, I was slightly uncomfortable due to my ignorance, however the one thing I do know, is that I still treated them with respect and as equals.

Lately, I have witness several occasions that reminded me of my pre CPAA days, some of which have been disheartening and I feel it's important to educate our community on some of the misconceptions that people have towards individuals with disabilities. Just because someone is in a wheelchair, does not mean they aren't capable. They may have challenges, but intellectually, most often, they are a lot quicker and smarter than a lot of abled body people I know, and yet, we tend to dumb down the conversation. And this happens at every level, even with people who work for organizations that support the disability community.

So my dilemma is what to say to the person who really should know better? Is there a tactful way to tell someone that individuals with disabilities are capable of having regular conversations without the baby talk?

I think of it like this... In my everyday interactions, at the super market, getting coffee, or walking in the dog park, although I am unsure of anyone's level of comprehension, if I were to automatically take on a child like tone in conversation, do you not think people would look at me like I was a little strange? But that's not how I approach people. Instead, I assume a normal conversational mode, talk about the weather, basic small talk. So why would I treat people with disabilities any different? Once you have engaged in conversation, it's pretty easy to determine whether you need to adjust your style. So let's not treat people like children but rather like the equals they are. Disability or not. I know that if something happened to me where I was confined to a wheelchair, I would certainly not want people thinking I am intellectually incapable of holding a normal conversation.

I realize now that I need to speak up the next time I come across such occurrence, and hope that others will as well. Especially if it involves someone who works in s disability related organization. We need to be leading by example and not setting a bad example to the community.