Tips for Working with People with Disabilities

• Always focus on the individual, not the disability. Use “people first" language – meaning, refer to the individual first, then to his or her disability. (It is better to say “the person with a disability" rather than “the disabled.")
• When communicating with an individual with a disability, speak directly to the person with the disability rather than their companion or interpreter.
• When introduced to a person with a disability, it is appropriate to offer to shake hands. If the person has limited hand use or has an artificial limb, it is okay to shake what is offered to you. It is equally acceptable to politely touch them on the shoulder/arm or offer a smile/nod to reciprocate a warm greeting.
• Any and all assistive devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, canes, communication boards, service animals, etc. should always be respected as personal property or extensions of that person. Do not use, lean on, play with or move unless given permission.
• If you would like to offer assistance to a person with a disability, always ask first, wait until the offer is accepted, then listen patiently and follow their instructions. If the person declines your help, respect their decision and do not proceed to assist.
• Relax. It is okay to use expressions such as “See you later," or “Did you hear about this?" as it is common phrases that everyone uses, including people with disabilities.
• As with all other etiquette issues, when mistakes are made, apologize, correct the problem, learn from the mistake, and move on.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a service of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, is another source of information offering several suggestions on working with people with disabilities that relate to interpersonal behaviors.