How To Communicate About Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities Properly

By Daphne Bowen


Words can influence a man immensely. Like all people, individuals with intellectual disabilities, can likewise be harmed and influenced by the way we discuss them. More often than not however, we are inconsiderate on how we address themes that are new to us.

To make this clearer, mental illness is different from intellectual disability. If one has not too good scholarly capacity coupled with impedance to adjust to their surroundings, then it is said that that person has intellectual disability. Some of the reasons attributed to such conditions might include hindered development from infancy or brain damage. Mental health issues occurs usually during pre-adulthood, particularly during challenging moments of one's life. It is possible for individuals with mental challenges to have excellent academic records and may even lead a simple life.

Education is very vital when talking about people who are intellectually challenged. If it's truly the desire of your heart to uplift and protect the morale of those who fall within the bracket of this vulnerable group, there are so many ways that can be done. This write-up isn't just for journalists, but for those with access to to the social media as well or those with the ability to converse with others. Yes! Everyone. Here are some points worth noting if you want to be able to communicate with people with intellectual disabilities.

At the point when speaking or expounding on them, abstain from utilizing the words: "retarded, abnormal, mentally ill, insane" or whatever other phrase that sounds or means the same as the ones mentioned. When a man is labeled, he is stereotyped to be an aggravation and a burden to society. This is not the situation because these individuals take care of themselves and endeavor hard to be great in what ever they do.

Adults and children with intellectual disabilities are not the same. They're still in a different area and must be treated respectfully as such. When a journalist is writing an article about an intellectually challenged adult, he must use the full name of that individual such as John Doe instead of just using John.

It is not good to see or portray the life of these persons in an overly dramatic fashion, full of suffering, especially from the family's perspective, and melancholic. This must be avoided at all cost as a lot of those families do not live in such a manner. All the necessary support is received from such families in order to ensure the child has that positive relationship their caretakers and families.

Only a few people know a family with a mentally challenged individual or even the individual himself. Authors and online networking clients have the obligation to edify individuals and depict these people taking an interest in each feature of life - at home or at work. Setting them or partner them with clinics does not help enhancing their picture.

Try as much as possible not to use words or phrase that will weaken their spirits during write-ups. This is due to the fact that intellectual challenge is no sickness. Also, the negative connotation that comes along with it is just the way outsiders see them and not the way they see themselves.

All the points enumerated above can be very limiting. However, it is important that more articles are written about them. They usually tend to reflect how society look at them: neglected. So, in order to make their spirit come alive, it is best to write about them more in a positive and encouraging manner.




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