War Cry - April 28, 2012 Page 7

The War Cry / April 28, 2012

The Salvation Army:

www.salvationarmy.org

The Salvation Army has released a new international web-
site on an updated platform. With a more contemporary
design and easier-to-find content, www.salvationarmy.org
now provides an even better overview of The Salvation
Army's work and ministry around the world. The updated
site features:
� Improved navigation, improved search function,

simpler web addresses

� Easier access to our growing social media presence,

enhanced with content from Flickr (news releases),
Twitter (Worldwide Prayer Meeting), Google Maps
(Zones), Timerime (interactive historical timeline),
Issuu (All the World and Revive publications)

� Addition of weekly Words of Life material
� Better indexing by major search engines

Useful
Websites!

"My prayer is that the website will always be

a catalyst for multitudes of people to receive

the saving grace of Jesus, and offer uplift and

inspiration for Salvationists as well as relevant,

helpful resources and information."

--LT. COLONEL LAURIE ROBERTSON,

Communications Secretary, Editor-in-Chief and

Literary Secretary, International Headquarters.

Interacting with
People with Disabilities

How do individuals with disabilities want to be treated?
"The same way you would hope to be treated," writes
a youth and disability support worker. "That is with
DIGNITY & RESPECT at all times. Always remember
they are people first and foremost. They have the same
rights as you, and most are capable of making choices
and decisions for themselves. Be patient, caring and
understanding. Offer assistance, and wait for a reply
before trying to help. Never make assumptions, espe-
cially about their intellectual abilities. They don't want
pity. Offering it often leads them to dislike you. Never
take over anything they are trying to do. Ask if they
would like help, and back off if they say no.

� Think of the person first and the disability second.

Sensitive use of language can help reinforce the
"person first" attitude. Reference to "people with
disabilities" rather than to "disabled people" helps.
Words like "normal person" imply that the person
with a disability isn't normal.

� Accept people with disabilities as individuals.

Consequences of disabilities vary considerably
from person to person. Don't generalize.

� Don't assume you know what they want or what is

best for them. People with disabilities are no less
capable of thinking for themselves than anyone else.

� A disability is not necessarily an illness. Do not treat

people with disabilities as though they are sick. Do
not patronize them.

� Speak directly to the person. It is insulting to talk

in the third person about a person who is present.
If the person with a disability has a communication
problem they will usually let you know and indicate
a preferred method.

A disability is an inconvenience in certain situations,

but it is not necessarily a tragedy which dominates a
person's life and makes fulfillment impossible.
Individuals find their own ways of adapting.

For more information visit the United Spinal
Association at www.unitedspinal.org.

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