Increasing Comfort: Working with People with Disabilities

Increasing Comfort: Working with People with Disabilities

November 14, 2018 Greg Thomson

Employers or colleagues may feel intimidated by the AODA’s mandate to accommodate if they have no experience working with people with disabilities. To help employers and colleagues become more comfortable with accommodation in the workplace, we have outlined some guidelines for working with people with disabilities.

Working with People with Disabilities

Employers and colleagues may need to provide accommodations for different work situations, including:

  • Job interviews
  • Workstation set-up
  • Emergency response

People needing accommodations include individuals who have:

  • Visual impairments
  • Hearing impairments
  • Physical or mobility disabilities
  • Learning disabilities
  • Intellectual disabilities
  • Mental health challenges

Communication and Language

Several resources may direct you not to ask about a person’s disability. However, if you are working with people with disabilities, you may be worried about offending a co-worker, or unsure how to interact with them. Sometimes, simply asking for information can help you develop a better understanding. People with disabilities are often comfortable telling others about their communication needs. Keep in mind that individuals will have personal preferences about if, when, or how often they might like to discuss their disability, if at all.

Each person will also have a preference for the language used to refer to their disability. Disabilities can vary in degree: for instance, someone with vision loss might [...]

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