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Helping a person with a disability or handicap is a challenge for most of us. What does this person need? How do I approach him? What if she doesn’t want my help? Am I being insulting just by offering?

The answers are in an American Red Cross course, "Serving People with Disabilities Following a Disaster", but while the course is specific to disasters, the lessons apply at home, in business, at church, or wherever you encounter someone who may — or may not — need your help.

This free course is not offered often, even by the Red Cross, so to have it here in Blanco County is a special opportunity.

Among other things, it will tell you how to talk to people about their disabilities without embarrassing them or yourself...how to help without being pushy...and how different impairments call for different approaches and different kinds of help.

They’ll even give you a cheat-sheet to help you with basic American Sign Language.

The day-long training (9-5) Saturday, June 26, will be at the Liberty Lighthouse Fellowship Church at 321 Old River Crossing in Johnson City. The course is free, but advance registration will make sure there are enough course materials for everyone. To get on the list, please call JoAnn at 868-7414 or Mary Haney at 830-257-4677.