How to Assist an Individual with Disabilities in Community Living

by Meg Smith, Nov 6, 2008

According to the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 and 2005, people with disabilities have the absolute right to live and work in the community. Some people need support in becoming their own self advocate.

Self advocacy is the most important skill to ensure success in the community. Promote and encourage self advocacy. Let the individual tell you his wants and needs. Do not assume that an individual wants or needs your help. Ask. Once you have listened to the problem, assist the individual with finding the solution that allows the greatest amount of independence.

Some people need support in becoming their own self advocate. The best person for this task is a natural support. Natural supports are those persons in the community who choose to be available for friendship, transportation assistance, and other relationship building activities, but are not paid to do so. Supporting individuals in community living can be a challenge, but the benefit to the individual and the community is enormous.

People with disabilities are neither heroes nor objects of pity. We all have challenges. We all face frustrations and denials of access at some point or another. The important thing to remember is that we are all people, and act accordingly.

Promote accessibility. Borrow a wheelchair for a day and go to all the places you like to go. Blindfold yourself and do the same, with someone along to keep you from walking into traffic or falling. Take note of any difficulties you experience: steps leading to picnic shelters; ramps that are too steep, short and narrow; elevator doors that close too quickly or are always out of order; bathroom doors and stall doors too narrow; buses with no wheelchair lifts or whose lifts are not working properly; water fountains and sinks too high to use; no audible signal on crosswalks; segregated accessible seating; menus and other informational signs in small print; movies and television stations with no captioning.

Patronize accessible businesses, and let them know why you are doing so. Talk to owners who could do more to make their business accessible. Help brainstorm ways for them to modify their business. Lobby for funding for remodeling public buildings for increased accessibility.

Be sensitive to the individual's need for confidentiality and independence. Do not discuss the individual with others as if he or she is not present. Do not violate confidences unless the individual would be in danger of imminent harm. Do not jump to do everything for the person. Instead, ask if he or she wants assistance or would rather do things for themselves. There are many devices that help aid with dressing, transfers from bed to wheelchair to vehicle, synthesized speech, bathing, and other activities of daily living that we all take for granted.

Become a natural support. Natural supports are members of the community who choose to be a friend, advocate, and even family member. Anyone who is available to help an individual without being paid to do so is a natural support: pastors, Sunday school and public school teachers, Meals on Wheels delivery drivers, neighbors and friends.

Encourage political activism. Assist individuals in learning to exercise all of their rights by registering to vote. Make sure that candidates for public office give consideration to the needs of people with disabilities while still in the campaign stage. Do not allow them to get away with window dressing and feel-good statements. Hold public officials and candidates for office accountable.