General aspects to consider
 
● Respect the person and try to find out what their specific disabilities are.
● Speak directly to the person with a disability and not to the accompanying person.
● Ask before helping.
● Act naturally, don’t be nervous and speak in a normal tone of voice, slowly and clearly, without calling or raising your voice.
● Treat each person according to their age, avoiding overprotection.
● Allow them to express themselves according to their possibilities.
  • There can be no generalisations regarding visually impaired people, as the degree of visual impairment as well as personal attitude, level of autonomy, etc., make each person different, with different capacities.
  • When addressing the person you must take the initiative to greet them and then identify yourself (who you are and your position). Stand in front of the person so they can see who is addressing them.
  • You should ask before offering help and not force anyone to receive unnecessary help.
  • To direct and / or accompany a visually impaired person, don’t take their arm if they do not ask for it, since this gesture, if you catch someone unawares, can make them lose their balance. You can offer an arm or shoulder, a walk a step ahead so you can be easily followed, this will allow them to easily foresee a step or a change in direction.
  • You have to pronounce their name before speaking so they know they are being addressed.
  • Use a normal tone of voice, speaking clearly and steadily.
  • Be precise and specific in your message, avoiding substituting verbal language for gestures. We should not use words like "here", "there", "this", "that", etc. because for a blind person they are ambiguous words. They can be replaced by a more specific description such as "in front of you", "to the right of the table", "behind you". It is also useful to direct the person's hand towards the object and indicate what it is.
  • Verbal expressions related to vision "look", "let's see ...", etc. must be used naturally.
  • Try to avoid exclamations that connote danger like "Oh!", "Careful!" etc. It is better to use more informative exclamations like "stop" and then the danger can be explained verbally (open door, an obstacle in the street, etc.).
  • To help the person sit down, indicate where the chair is, putting their hand on the backrest and describing the parts of the object.
  • We must not disappear or appear without warning. When you reappear, let the person know you are back.
  • If necessary, communicate what you are doing when there is a silence or an absence.
  • To ensure security, you must keep your environment ordered. If any object or piece of furniture is changed, make sure the person is informed. You must prevent accidents with objects that may become an obstacle. Doors and windows should be fully open or closed, the chairs placed under the table or against the wall. Never let your space get messy and avoid leaving cabinets and drawers open.
  • Address the person with the disability, not the person accompanying them.
  • To talk to a person who uses a wheelchair you need to stand in front of them.
  • Do not lean on the wheelchair. Remember that it forms part of their personal space.
  • If you want to help the person you must first ask how you can help them.
  • If a wheelchair is to be manoeuvred, the person must be notified first. We must not push the chair too fast and avoid sudden movements.
  • There are people who have difficulty speaking. If you do not understand what they are saying, you should ask them to repeat what they have said.
  • The conversation should not be interrupted no matter how slow the person is speaking. They must be given time to express themselves.
  • Do not rush.  people with reduced mobility need their time to get things done.
  • We should not treat the person like a child, but rather according to their age.
  • People with hearing impairments form a very heterogeneous group depending on their individual characteristics and the communication system they use: oral language / sign language. There are different degrees: from mild deafness to severe and acute deafness.
  • These people are helped by hearing aids, cochlear implants, FM stations combined with lip reading, to improve their hearing in relation to verbal language.
  • Before starting a conversation we need to make sure that the person is looking at us, otherwise we need to get their attention with a gesture or physical contact.
  • We should not call a deaf person, they will not hear to us no matter how much we shout. They will only see a hostile face, without hearing the content of the words.
  • Deaf people receive visual information, so the face must be easily seen in good light and without hair or involuntary gestures like covering your mouth with you hand interfering with facial expressions.
  • You need to vocalize clearly and slowly, without exaggeration and without shouting.
  • If you do not understand what they are saying, you should ask them again and / or ask them to repeat what they have said.
  • Construct short, simple sentences, without unusual language or slang. If we cannot make ourselves understood, repeat the message using different words with the same meaning.
  • To accompany our message, we can use verbal expression with gestures, facial and body expression ... without over-gesturing. Writing can also be of use.
  • You must let the person know if the topic of conversation changes.
  • If in a group, talk one by one and sit at a round table to make it easier for all attendees to see.
  • If you are a deafblind person using Spanish Sign Language, you must use it directly or request the presence of an interpreting professional.
  • In a conversation, look at the other person's eyes. That shows confidence in the other person and ensures they can easily follow you. Deaf people are usually very gesturally expressive. Keeping that eye contact will help us to know if we need to keep up or change the pace of the conversation.
  • Avoid any posture that makes it difficult to read your lips, such as turning your back or turning your head while speaking.
  • Mental illness is related to psychiatric problems and is usually an invisible illness.
  • Everyone should be treated as an individual as they are people first and disabled second. Find out how they might feel more comfortable and be respectful of their needs. Stress can affect their ability to act.
  • Clear communication must be maintained, avoiding confusion at all times. The relationship must be sincere to avoid any kind of suspicion, tense situations or rivalry.
  • In the event of a crisis, we should be the first to stay calm, to ask how the person can be helped and if they need medication.
  • Respect their living space. Talk naturally, listen to the person and never judge them.
  • Treat them according to their age, adapting to their abilities.
  • Keep in mind that they have difficulty understanding, limited speech expression, limited reading comprehension, and little vocabulary.
  • When talking you need to be clear with them and focus your attention on one thing. We need to make sure they understand what they have been told. If not, use other words to explain.
  • If you don't understand what they're telling you,tell them to try to explain it differently. Do not pretend that you have understood.
  • Make sure they understand what is being said to them, and look for situations they will find familiar and useful.
  • They should be involved in decisions that affect them.
  • Speak naturally to a person with comprehension difficulties due to their intellectual limitations.
  • Be patient, flexible and show them your support. They must be given time. If they respond slowly, do not interrupt.
  • You need to avoid overprotection. They should be given minimum help, so that they can carry out other activities by themselves.
  • Their relationships and communication with others should be supported.
Source: Rules for Universal Accessibility in the Organization of Public Events.