Tips for Interacting with People with Disabilities
When speaking with a person with a disability, talk directly to the person, not his or her companion.
If you believe that an individual with a disability needs assistance, offer the assistance, but wait for your offer to be accepted before trying to help.
If you are interviewing a job candidate with a disability, listen to what the individual has to offer. Do not make assumptions about what that person can or cannot do.
If you are speaking to a person who is blind, be sure to identify yourself at the beginning of the conversation and announce when you are leaving.
If you are having a conversation with a person who uses a wheelchair, try to put yourself at the person’s eye level. Never lean on or touch a person’s wheelchair or any other assistive device.