Interacting with People who are Disabled

As you meet people with various physical disabilities, you will likely find that you are apprehensive about how you should behave towards these individuals. Every person is different and some will find it easy to interact with such individuals, whereas others will find it difficult adjusting to people with physical disabilities. Always remember that a person with a disability is a person. He or she is like anyone else, except for the special limitations of their disability.

Helpful Hints:

- Introduce yourself before you offer assistance.
- Don't be offended if your help is not needed.
- Ask how you can help and listen for instructions.
- Be courteous, but NOT condescending.
- Assist disabled persons only when necessary or requested.
- Do not discourage their active participation.
- Allow a person DIGNITY to do what he or she wants to do for him or herself.


Other Things to Remember:

- Treat people as you would like to be treated yourself.
- Do not show pity for a person in a wheelchair.
- People with disabilities are NOT alike and have a wide variety of skills.
- Disabled people are not sick, incompetent, dependent, unintelligent or contagious.
- The wheelchair is part of the user's personal space. It is not a leaning post.

And lastly, don't be discouraged from including people with disabilities in your circle of friends, social life, or even dating. Differences & diversity keep life interesting!