At Humber College, we work and communicate with a diverse group of learners who have different needs, challenges and barriers.

Here are some suggestions when interacting with any learner, including those with disabilities: 

• Speak directly to learners with disabilities; don’t avoid eye contact or speak only to their companions. 

• Be patient and give your full attention to learners who may have difficulty communicating; some people need more time to express themselves. 

• If you don’t understand someone, don’t pretend you do; ask questions that will help you understand. 

• When speaking with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, speak clearly, face the person, and don’t cover your mouth. If speaking through an interpreter, direct your attention to the individual with a disability, not to the interpreter. 

• When speaking for more than a few minutes with a learner who uses a wheelchair or scooter, sit down or kneel so you are at the same eye level as them. 

• For learners using a wheelchair, please remember that this equipment is part of their body space. Please don’t touch, lean on, push or handle the wheelchair without the specific direction of the learner. 

• Most learners with disabilities do not fit into conventional boxes, don’t be afraid to be creative when problem-solving with them. 

• If you suspect a learner would benefit from additional support beyond what you can provide, offer a “soft” introduction for the learner to the appropriate person. 

Please look at the link for other disability etiquette tips: https://drrcva.org/disability-etiquette-tips

Please email accessible-learning@humber.ca with suggestions for topics that you would like addressed through the Communiqué.