Wheelchair Etiquette
Great strides have been made in the United States to treat people who are disabled with equality in the workplace. But normal, everyday interactions can be more troublesome for the roughly 500,000 people that Dizable.com estimates use wheelchairs.
Other People Are Reading
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Eye Contact
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Speak directly to the person and look them in the eye like you would any other. If possible, sit down to talk if the conversation starts running several minutes long.
Wheelchair
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Don't touch, lean on or hang anything from the person's chair if you aren't close with them. Regard it as part of their personal space.
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Assistance
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Offer to help them move or get something, but don't insist on it. People in wheelchairs have different levels of capability and will tell you if they need assistance.
Handicapped Spaces
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Leave these spaces for people who need them. Even if the parking lot is otherwise empty, that extra-wide space is located near the building for those who really need it.
Speech
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It's fine to say words like "running around," "walking," "flying" and "rolling" when talking to a wheelchair user. They use the same expressions.
Service Animals
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Don't pet or play with a service animal that accompanies someone in a chair since their presence is meant for assisting that person.
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