Supporting someone with a disability can be difficult, especially if you don't know how to do it. It may seem that there are very few ways in which you can help, but this couldn't be further from the truth! Below are four simple tips to support a family member with a disability. Hopefully, these will provide some guidance for those of us looking for ideas on how to lend our support.
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#1 Be supportive by listening closely and giving them your full attention when they speak
The first thing you can do is to be supportive. This means listening closely and giving them your full attention when they speak, rather than tuning out or getting distracted by other things in the room. It would also be best not to offer advice if it's not needed.
This may seem obvious, but sometimes people get so caught up in wanting to help someone that they forget their own advice isn't always welcome! So if somebody with a disability opens up about how something makes them feel, don't bombard them with suggestions on what they could or should do - just listen instead. You'll probably earn some major brownie points for being such an attentive listener!
You could also try to be proactive in making changes around the house. If any physical obstacles at home would make life easier for someone with a disability, such as cutting down trees or building ramps for wheelchairs to navigate up and down stairs, you could offer to take care of it. For example, if the person in question has trouble getting into your car because they can't use their wheelchair on gravel, why not arrange alternative transport? Additionally, consider teaching them practical skills that could empower them in their daily life, such as showing them how to clean a hospital bed properly if they use one at home.
#2 Encourage them every time they do something well
Every day, people with disabilities accomplish things we often take for granted, such as brushing their teeth or getting dressed. Next time they do something like this without assistance, be sure to tell them how brilliant you think they are! It can make a huge difference in how someone feels about themselves if others notice and compliment the positive actions they're taking daily.
Don't pity or patronize them. Above all else, avoid any kind of pitying tone because it suggests that there is something wrong with needing support - which isn't true at all! Someone with a disability definitely doesn't need your sympathy; rather than feeling sorry for someone who has difficulties doing certain tasks due to an impairment, why not admire what they can do?
#3 Offer encouragement during their workouts or other tasks
If someone with a disability is working on their fitness or trying to accomplish some other task, you could offer encouragement during the process. For example, places like Passavant Memorial Homes offer more than a few services to people living with a disability and provide them with a positive and healthy environment.
#4 Suggest different methods of doing things that might work better than others
Finally, there may be certain things you do that would make life easier for someone with a disability. For example, if somebody is hard of hearing and finds spoken instructions incredibly difficult to follow as they're not written down anywhere, perhaps your subsequent request could be "Please text me back, so I know you got this message" rather than going over the same thing several times in person or on the phone?
If someone has problems using their hands due to arthritis but still wants to send emails from time to time, suggest buying an iPad instead because it's much simpler! Finally, at a push - if all else fails - offer specific help with computer tasks such as sending messages via social media sites.