What do you do when you meet someone who has a disability? Do you lean on their wheelchair, talk louder, grab their arm to help them? If you do you are violating disability etiquette and making the person with a disability uncomfortable.
First, let’s start with language of disability. Vehicles or things may be crippled, but not people. Credit cards may be invalid, but not people. People first language encourages respect and promotes dignity and a positive attitude toward people with disabilities. We refer to someone with a disability as a person who is blind or deaf or uses a wheelchair (not wheelchair bound).
There are some simple rules to live by when you meet someone with a disability. Here are some suggestions that will make your interactions more pleasant.
How to Help: General Guidelines
- Introduce yourself and offer assistance if needed.
- Don’t be offended if your offer of help is refused.
- Ask how you can help and listen for instructions.
- Assist individuals with disabilities when necessary or requested, but
do not discourage their active participation.
- Allow a person DIGNITY to do what he or she wants to do for him or
herself. Encourage independence, not dependency.
Be Yourself
Treat people with disabilities with the same respect and consideration that
you have for everyone else. Treat the person as an individual, not as a
disability. Don’t assume that “disability” is all that person can talk about or
is interested in.
As in any new situation, everyone will be more
comfortable if you relax.
Hearing Impairments
- Face the person when you are speaking.
- Don’t eat or cover your mouth while talking. It -it makes speech difficult to understand!
- Rephrase sentences or substitute words rather than repeat yourself
again and again.
- Speak clearly and at a normal voice level. Don’t shout.
- Communicate in writing, if necessary.
- Move away from noisy areas or the source of noise – loud air
conditioning, loud music, TV and radio.
- Don’t stand with bright light (window, sun) behind you – glare makes it
difficult to see your face.
- Get the hearing-impaired person’s attention and face in full view before
talking.
Visual Impairments
- When greeting the person, identify yourself and introduce others who
may be present.
- Be descriptive. You may have to help orient people with visual
impairments and let them know what’s coming up. If they are walking,
tell them if they have to step up or step down, let them know if the door
is to their right or left, and warn them of possible hazards.
- You don’t have to speak loudly to people with visual impairments. Most
of them can hear just fine.
- Offer to read written information for a person with a visual impairment,
when appropriate.
- If you are asked to guide a person with a visual impairment, offer your
arm instead of grabbing hers. They should hold your arm just above the elbow.
- Don’t leave the person without excusing yourself first.
- Don’t leave cabinet doors open and remove other obstacles that may present a hazard to someone who cannot see well.
Mobility Impairments
- Try sitting or crouching down to the approximate height of people in
wheelchairs or scooters when you talk to them.
- Don’t lean on a person’s wheelchair unless you have his permission – it’s
his personal space.
- Only push someone’s wheelchair when asked.
I hope these hints will make your interactions more comfortable with your neighbors who have disabilities.