Sight, hearing, physical and cognitive impairments can all be considered hidden disabilities. Depending on the situation, disabilities can make communication more challenging. Whether you’re having a difficult time understanding a client, or one of your clients doesn’t completely understand you, it is important to slow speech and enunciate more clearly.  If things aren’t working out in either direction, it may feel frustrating to you and/or the client. Best to apologize and politely withdraw, remaining cheerfully quiet and helpful.

​

Memory; problem-solving; attention; reading, linguistic, and verbal comprehension; math comprehension and visual comprehension are each a form of cognitive impairment.  Some cognitive challenges are more debilitating than others, but as a TRC Chaperone, maintain focus on allowing each client to maintain maximum independence and autonomy.

​

Invisible disabilities include heart and lung conditions, asthma, debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, brain injuries, learning differences, mental health disorders, hearing and vision impairments.  It’s safe to say that, as a TRC Chaperone, you should prepare for challenges of one sort or another and be ready to treat all with professional concern.