Disability Etiquette

Keep these basic principles of disability etiquette in mind:

• If you would like to help someone with a disability, ask if he or she needs it, and listen to any instructions the person may want to give.
• Be considerate of the extra time it might take a person with a disability to get things done or said. Let the person set the pace in walking and talking.
• Treat adults accordingly.
• Call a person by his or her first name only when you extend this familiarity to everyone present.
• Don’t patronize people who use wheelchairs by patting them on the head.
• Don’t be embarrassed if you happen to use common expressions that seem to relate to the person’s disability such as “See you later” or “I’ve got to run.”
• When planning events involving persons with disabilities, consider their needs ahead of time. If there’s a potential barrier, like a flight of stairs, narrow doors, or an inaccessible restroom, reach out and discuss the situation with them in advance.
• If you have a question about access, always ask it and don’t assume you already know the answer.

Disability etiquette when you're with a wheelchair user:

• Don’t lean or hang on someone’s wheelchair.
• Do remember that wheelchairs are an extension of personal space.
• Ask permission before touching someone’s wheelchair.
• Do place yourself at the wheelchair user’s eye level to spare both of you a stiff neck if you’re talking for more than a few minutes.
• Do consider distance, weather conditions and physical obstacles such as stairs, curbs and steep hills when giving directions.

Disability etiquette when you're with people who are blind or have low vision:

• Don’t grab a person’s arm in order to guide them.
• Do allow the person to take your arm. This will help you to guide, rather than propel or lead, the person.
• Do use specifics such as “left a hundred feet” or “right two yards.”

Disability etiquette when you're with people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing:

• Don’t shout.
• Do look directly at the person and speak clearly and expressively to establish if the person can read your lips. Remember, not everyone who is deaf or hard-of-hearing can lip-read. Those who do will rely on facial expressions and other body language to help understand.
• Show consideration by facing a light source and keeping your hands and food away from your mouth when speaking.