How to Interact with People Who Have Disabilities

People with disabilities often come up against problems and sometimes face difficulties with other people who don;t know how to interact with them. Stereotypes perpetuated by movies often don't help. The truth is that disabled people want to be liked for who they are, not for their disability. Here are some ways you can learn to get past a person's disability.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make an effort to see beyond the disability. Does the person have a great sense of humor or artistic skills?

2. Take a look at how accommodating you really are. People think they're going out of their way to be accommodating, but fail to ask the person with the disability what they need to perform their job duties.

3. Approach a disabled person the same way you would approach any other person. Make eye contact when you're speaking to him. Speak in a normal voice, and don't condescend. If a person has a mental disability, take the time to understand what he or she is trying to say.

4. Expect that disabled people have the same feelings and emotions that anyone else has. Just because you see a person in wheelchair crying doesn't mean that she is frustrated about her inability to get around. She may have just lost her best friend, or broke up with a guy.

5. See life from the disabled person's eyes. Try to imagine what it's like spending your life with braces on your legs or not being able to see or hear. Don't feel sorry for the person, but learn some empathy.

6. Celebrate all that the person can do in spite of their disability. Is the person able to communicate despite an autistic disorder? Has she used technology to master the computer despite a partial paralysis?

7. Be a friend. Disabled people sometimes have less of an opportunity to get out into society due to physical limitations. You can invite the person out to lunch and get to know her. Ask if there is any way you can help.

Tips & Warnings

• When talking with a person in a wheelchair, pull up a chair so you can sit at eye-level, or crouch down at the person's side.
• Allow a person with a disability to do for themselves. They value their independence as much as you value yours.
• Identify yourself when speaking with a person who is blind.

Resources

• DREDF's website explains disability rights and how to interact.
• Community Resources for Independence discusses etiquette issues.
• Lifespy has good tips for interacting with disabled people.