I have entered a National speaking competition and have chosen a subject that we nurses experience on a daily basis; people being spoken to or treated differently because of the way they talk.
Im touching on a range of people; people with disabilities, aged, mental illness & English as a second language where, because of an accent or way of talking, are spoken to condescendingly, excluded from conversations, yelled to instead of spoken to and spoken about in front of them.
For example, I know a man with cerebral palsy who uses a foot controlled wheelchair. He had recently written his memoirs and worked at the hospital. Acquaintances would sometimes approach him with sympathetic smiles and high pitched "Hiiii! How ARE you!? You look cute in that shirt! I hope you're not giving your carer a hard time!" (I am his friend, not carer).
Or my colleague from Nigeria who has things read out to her like a story book "See here? This says 'No return policy applies after 60 days' so you can't return it after 60 days".
What I would absolutely adore is input from you; your personal experiences, if colleagues, friends, family or patients are treated differently (and how) and what you did or would have liked to do in that situation.
Particularly, what suggestions do you have to increase more dignified and respectful conversations?
I understand that many people who speak differently to another person under the belief they may not understand is not always meant maleficently and often has good intentions but I want to highlight this issue.
