Working With Disabled Students
The NRA’s Disabled Shooting Services has a “Disability Awareness” document about working with disabled students. (For those not on the firearms side, the NRA is primarily a training and shooting competition organization.) There’s some gun-specific stuff in there, but it’s mostly practical info applicable to coaching and etiquette.
We all know we shouldn’t yell at blind people, but many people do not know what to say or how to behave when they meet someone with a disability. It is not uncommon for people to be apprehensive when meeting people with various physical disabilities. The important thing to remember is that despite the use of a wheelchair, canes or crutches, or the loss of a limb the individual is just like you.
Many people with disabilities have college degrees, are working professionals, have families and share other life similarities. Although each individual story is different, many of their dreams and goals are the same. One major goal that we all have in common is to be treated with respect.
Each person is different. There are some who will find working with people with disabilities easy and others who may be uncomfortable. We have compiled some basic information about working with people with disabilities that may help ease individuals’ concerns…