Myths about People with Disabilities

Myth # 1: People with disabilities cannot make their own decisions

- because they might make a mistake!

FACT:  Everyone should have the right to make decisions for himself

- even wrong ones!

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Myth # 2:  You have to speak loudly to most people with disabilities

- because they might have difficulty hearing!

FACT:  People get confused about how to communicate

with a person who has a disability.

SOME people with disabilities have hearing problems,

others have problems understanding,

and the rest hear and understand just like you and me.  

Yelling does not help!

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Myth # 3:  People with disabilities shouldn't be out in our community -

they should be kept indoors at home.

FACT:   More and more people who are disabled are becoming visible - in shopping malls, restaurants, theatres - enjoying life!  That's the way it should be!

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Myth # 4: We have to talk for people who have disabilities -

because they aren't capable.

FACT:   People who take over for another person

really deprive that person of a sense of self worth and dignity.

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Myth # 5: Disabled people don't have feelings like you -

their blood is a different color, too!

FACT: People with disabilities think and feel the same as anyone, but

the public seems to think that they should react to situations

differently than other people do.