Promote Healing!

Please Include People with Disabilities in Our Nation's Grieving and Mourning Process

Promote Healing! We sometimes overlook people with disabilities as we grieve and mourn. Especially when their disability impacts how they think, learn and/or feel, we may not be sure what to say or do. We wonder if our efforts will cause unnecessary confusion or pain. As for all of us, ignoring, dismissing or neglecting the reality of the situation and/or the feelings connected with it can be much more harmful.

For starters: Hug the person who is close to you. Make sure we all know that we are loved.

1. Take the time to talk about the situation, sharing feelings and describing circumstances.
2. Ask questions about what people know and think and feel. Clarify information where needed.
3. Talk about fear and uncertainty; provide assurances of safety.
4. Assure the person that all the different feelings and reactions are okay, that they can happen at the same time and they will get sorted out.
5. Plan together an activity, something to do that will mark the loss or tragedy, that will help make a positive contribution to getting through the tough times together.