accessAbilities Offers Educational Seminar in Celebration of Disabilities Awareness Month

Greensburg, PA -- There are more than 50 million Americans who have disabilities—making it the largest minority group in the country.  Despite this, many people are not comfortable communicating with individuals who have disabilities, often because of a lack of experience or understanding.  They may be concerned that they will say the wrong thing, ask an inappropriate question, or unintentionally offend.  Not wanting to appear uninformed or insensitive, many people choose not to talk to someone with a disability.

 

In recognition of Disability Awareness Month, accessAbilities, Inc., is proud to offer a free educational seminar about interacting with people with disabilities.  accessAbilities is a multi-county nonprofit organization that provides home- and community-based services for children and adults with physical and/or cognitive disabilities.

 

The disability etiquette training provides an informative, light-hearted look at appropriate ways of interacting with individuals with disabilities. The program can help increase an individual’s comfort level by teaching effective approaches to face-to-face contact and the appropriate language to use when speaking to, or about, people with disabilities. Those who have completed this training are more comfortable interacting and working with individuals with disabilities, and welcome them as customers, colleagues and friends.

 

The program is approximately 60 minutes long and is offered free of charge to all businesses, groups, or organizations.   It can easily be adapted to make it appropriate for youth, such as scouts or classrooms, as well as business-related situations.

 

To learn more about accessAbilities or to schedule a Disability Etiquette seminar, please contact accessAbilities Public Relations Director Kathy Yandura by phone, 724-832-8272, or email, klyandura@accessAbilities.org.

 

accessAbilities, a United Way partner agency and the 2009 Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year, provides in-home services for close to 2,000 children, youth, adults, and seniors with developmental delays or disabilities in Armstrong, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties.  For more than 55 years, the agency has been committed to giving consumers with physical and/or cognitive disabilities the supports they need to live in their homes, enabling them to participate in community life to the extent that they choose.  Visit www.accessAbilities.org for additional information.  accessAbilities provides equal opportunity in employment and services and is licensed as a Home Care Agency by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.