Retail guidance: Enlightening short film advises people how to talk about disability without being awkward
A short video featuring disabled people discussing some of the common mistakes made when talking about disability is proving an invaluable watch for newcomers to the mobility industry who may not have experience interacting with disabled people.
According to research by disability equality charity Scope, two thirds of people feel uncomfortable talking with a disabled person. Aiming to address this and educate people how to talk about disability without causing accidental offence or awkwardness, the BBC has produced a short three-and-a-half-minute film.
Featuring the BBC’s Ellis Palmer, activist Tanni Grey-Thompson and YouTuber Lucy Edwards, the video highlights issues regarding how disabled people’s condition are referred to, as well as what causes disabled people to feel patronised, as well as flagging terms as ‘wheelchair-bound’ and ‘confined to a wheelchair’ as being out of place.
“We’re not all inspirational just because we have got out of bed in the morning,” says Tanni Grey-Thompson in the film.
“It is actually one of the most patronising things for a disabled person to experience.”
Providing useful advice and insights from various disabled figures, the short film ‘Stop telling me I’m speeding in my wheelchair!’ is part of the BBC’s selection of thought-provoking short films surrounding disability, aiming to change the way society thinks about disability.
For mobility retailers and suppliers, the short, informative video is a useful watch for new members of staff who may not have had much opportunity to talk and engage with disabled people.
Watch the full video below:
