ReachAble

This questionnaire is designed to stimulate thinking and dialogue. It is not intended to test knowledge of disability or attitudes toward people with disabilities. As people increasingly find themselves in situations involving people who are disabled they need to make quick decisions on how to respond. This questionnaire provides an opportunity to think about situations involving people with disabilities, to respond, and then to consider the various responses more carefully.

Q. After explaining a complex point, you turn to your coworkers and say, "Do you see what I mean?" As soon as the words are out of your mouth, you wonder if it was inappropriate to use that phrase since one of the people you are talking to is blind. At this point you should:
a) apologize for choosing an inappropriate phrase and continue with the conversation, avoiding all future use of such phrases.
b) continue with the conversation without commenting on having used the word "see" so as not to embarrass your coworker, but make a note to yourself to avoid using the word "see" around a person who is blind again.
c) continue talking as you always do, not worrying about whether or not you use words like "see", "walk" or "hear" around people with disabilities.
d) ask your coworker who is blind if you should avoid using the word "see" when you are in conversations with him in the future.

c) continue talking as you always do, not worrying about whether or not you use words like "see," "walk," or "hear" around people with disabilities.
All languages have expressions with meanings different from a literal translation. Phrases like "do you see what I mean" or "I hear what you are saying" do not literally refer to seeing or hearing. Because of this, people with disabilities tend to use these phrases as much as others. A person who is blind can "see what you mean" because the phrase really means "do you understand my point; am I being clear?"
A person who uses a wheelchair can "take a walk around the park" because that phrase refers to moving around on a stroll more than it refers to the actual process of placing one foot in front of another. Sometimes a person who uses a wheelchair may prefer to use the phrase "take a wheel around the park." However, it would be inappropriate to carefully monitor your speech to eliminate use of any words or phrases such as this. That would tend to produce an unnatural stiffness and awkwardness in your speech. Relaxing and talking naturally when you are with people who are disabled is essential to acceptance of disabilities and people who have disabilities. Being overly conscious of disability can cause discomfort and awkwardness on everyone's part.
Although it is not necessary to stiffly screen out use of any idioms with physical references when talking to people with disabilities, it is useful to examine the labels we use when referring to people with disabilities to identify potentially inaccurate assumptions underlying such labels. People who are deaf have been referred to as "deaf-mute" or as "deaf and dumb;" people who use wheelchairs have been referred to as "invalids;" people with intellectual disabilities have been referred to as "poor things" and "vegetables." These phrases are inaccurate and reflect the stereotypical thinking of a time when little was known about disabilities and the capabilities of people with disabilities. Besides eliminating use of inaccurate labels, it is also appropriate to eliminate use of phrases that undercut a person's dignity. Referring to a person with a disability as “retard”, “wheelchair bound" or a "cripple" is neither accurate nor respectful.
In short, some changes do need to occur in our use of language. However, it is not necessary to bend over backwards, becoming self-conscious and stiffly avoiding use of common idioms. Speak naturally and ask what phrase is most appropriate if you are unsure.