Disabled people require care and consideration as much as other family members do, especially if they have other children in the household. Take time out of your schedule to spend time with them if there is no family caregiver available to provide such help disability services Melbourne.
Utilize real-life examples and visual aids such as charts and graphs when possible; these will allow readers to better grasp your recommendations.
Be Respectful
Respectfulness should always be top of mind when caring for disabled individuals, from communicating directly with them rather than through caregivers and avoiding stereotypes to treating them as equals – people with disabilities share similar wants, needs and aspirations as everyone else; don’t assume that they understand you or have trouble communicating; if that is indeed the case they will let you know!
Never overemphasise their disability.
Be Flexible
There are various disabilities, and their impacts vary in scope; therefore it’s essential that when taking care of disabled individuals you be flexible in approach.
Give disabled people agency to manage their own wellbeing: let them chop up vegetables on their own or support them to navigate around a park in their wheelchair instead of needing someone else push them around; giving disabled people more power will have both mental and physical benefits while also making them feel empowered and satisfied with life.
Some government programs pay family or friends to assist with cooking, washing, socializing and health care visits.
Be Prepared
Establish friendships with individuals living with disabilities, and join support groups or associations dedicated to families of disabled people. Doing this will give you a support network of people who can offer advice, information, and emotional assistance.
If the individual has hearing or vision impairments, consider using a lip reader to communicate. Furthermore, many disabled people qualify for a carer premium which can cover some out-of-pocket expenses. Attend health appointments together while taking notes so you know exactly what will occur during each visit.
The availability of evidence was a limitation of the literature review. However, it identified several key barriers to accessibility of healthcare services for people with disabilities. It identified several barriers to accessing healthcare services for people with learning difficulties, including inadequate resources, lacks of training and awareness by health professionals; insufficient access to mainstream healthcare services; and lack of financial resources.
The evidence also highlighted some modifiable obstacles to accessing healthcare services for people who have disabilities. These include communication barriers, lack of access to mainstream services, and failure of the health system in providing access to care for people with disabilities. These barriers can negatively affect the autonomy and health of people with disabilities.
Be Honest
Focusing solely on what a disabled person cannot do can make them feel powerless and depressed. Instead, encourage them to pursue activities they are capable of and step in only when necessary.
As important, it’s also essential that disabled people understand ableism’s effects in their lives. Reinterpreting perceptions of disability experiences by non-disabled people can be highly insulting and disempowering; using language such as “people first” helps remind disabled individuals that disability is just one aspect of themselves.
Be Patient
As it can be easy to focus on what disabled people cannot do, and provide solutions, it’s also vitally important to encourage them to do what they can themselves; this will boost their self-esteem and empower them.
Use accurate terms when discussing disabilities. Avoid euphemisms like “handicapped” and “differently-abled”, which may make the patient feel like their condition is being taken lightly and you do not take their situation into consideration.
Instead, speak directly to the patient and ensure they understand you by asking how you can assist them and respecting their response. It may help if they have someone with them.
Sunil Jeans