We’ve learned over the past few weeks that people who have disabilities are just like us, designed by God on and for a specific purpose. But what if you meet someone and don’t understand what they are saying? How do you talk to them and make friends if they don’t talk?
Those are some great questions! To help me answer your questions, let me introduce you to a few of my friends. I think their stories can give you some ideas about what you can do.
Those are some great questions! To help me answer your questions, let me introduce you to a few of my friends. I think their stories can give you some ideas about what you can do.
| This is my friend, Don. Don is a great guy and a very talented athlete. He plays basketball, bocce ball, runs the 100 yard dash really fast and can throw a javelin a long way. He likes to help and makes everyone laugh. Oh, and he loves chocolate brownies! What you can’t tell about Don by looking at him is that he can’t hear and he can’t speak. So, you might ask, how can Don do all of these things, have lots of friends and make people laugh if he can’t hear or speak? Don uses his body language to communicate with his friends! Body language is what our body actions tell people about us. Here’s what I mean. If you see someone with a big smile on their face, how might they feel? Happy, that’s right. If you see someone crying, they might feel sad. If someone points to a candy bar and then at their mouth, they might be trying to tell you they want to eat the candy bar! You see, you don’t always need to use words to communicate with someone. You can “talk” by using your body. |  |
 | I have another friend, Sonya. She loves to write, do crafts and wear pretty jewelry. Birthdays are her favorite time and she loves to eat cake. But sometimes it’s hard to understand what she is saying. I listen carefully, but still don’t understand. Have you ever had that problem? Or maybe you are afraid you might have this problem and wouldn’t know what to do, so you don’t even try. Here’s what I’ve learned to do with my friend Sonya when I don’t understand what she is saying to me:
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There have been a few times when, no matter what I tried, I still didn’t understand what Sonya was saying to me, and I had to tell her that I was sorry. Fortunately, Sonya is my friend, and she understands and forgives me every time. She knows that I have tried my best. She loves me just the way I am, and I love her just the way she is too.
| There is one more friend that I would like you to meet. His name is Joe. Everybody loves Joe! He always has a smile on his face and wants to meet everyone that he sees. He’d want to meet you too if you were here. He would walk right up to you and give you a great big hug! How would that make you feel? Not everyone likes to be hugged, but Joe doesn’t understand that. He loves everyone and likes to give hugs. Sometimes this makes people feel uncomfortable to be around Joe. They don’t like to have people so close to them, especially people they don’t know very well. You see, God gave each of us what we call a “personal space.” This is an area around your body. To some people it is uncomfortable if others are too close to them, or “in their personal space.” Joe isn’t able to understand this – it’s part of his disability – so sometimes his actions frighten people. So what should you do if someone like Joe comes up to you and wants to give you a hug, but you don’t feel comfortable with that? Well, when I see Joe coming toward me to give me a big hug, I put my hand out and move toward him to shake his hand. Joe can read my body language, and knows to shake my hand instead. |  |
At other times, if he gets too close to my face when we are talking, and it makes me feel uncomfortable, I just take a step backward to make a little more space between us. I don’t make a big deal about it, it just helps him know that I’m not comfortable being so close, and that’s okay. That’s how God made me.
So you see, communicating with someone who has a disability can be really easy. Just remember to pay attention to their body language, listen carefully, repeat what you hear, be aware of your personal space and always be respectful and kind. Pretty soon, you’ll have some great friends, just like me!
So you see, communicating with someone who has a disability can be really easy. Just remember to pay attention to their body language, listen carefully, repeat what you hear, be aware of your personal space and always be respectful and kind. Pretty soon, you’ll have some great friends, just like me!
 | Becci Terrill |
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