How to Talk to Patients With Disabilities

Dr. M. Edward Wilson Jr. says that when dealing with a patient with a disability, remember that you are treating a person and not a disability. Use people-first language: for example, you’re not treating a disabled man; you’re treating a man with Down syndrome. Don’t make assumptions about what patients can and cannot do. Treat adults as adults and involve them actively in their care. 

View the full series of patient communication videos:

• How to Talk to Patients With Dementia or Alzheimer Disease
• How to Talk to Transgender Patients
• How to Talk to Patients Who Speak a Different Language
• How to Talk to Patients With Disabilities