In 2023 the CDC reported approximately 27% of U.S. citizens were diagnosed with having a mental or physical disability, making it the largest minority group in the country. Given the high amount of disabled U.S. citizens, its important to understand how to respectfully communicate with and assist these individuals in their time of need. How can you ensure you are respectfully assisting these individuals? As a leader in custom advanced mobility solutions, our team has put together this guide on how you can respectfully assist when needed.
Identifying Someone with a Disability
According to the Equality Act, a disability can be considered visible or hidden. When its a visible disability its more often related to the individual's physical state and when its a hidden disability its more often related to the individual's mental state. However, this is not always the case. There are some physical disabilities that are hidden such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, and Cystic Fibrosis to name a few.
Although you may never know if someone struggles with a disability, its important to understand that disabilities can cause pain, exhaustion, and isolation, so when you offer to assist an individual, be aware, show care and gain approval before helping.
How to Assist Someone with a Disability
If you see a stranger in public with a disability who is struggling, your first instinct may be to jump in and help. However, you may only make things worse if you don't know the person's specific needs or intentions, given that not all disabilities are apparent. Below are three steps on how to best approach assisting someone with a disability.
Get Permission
If someone seems to need help, it doesn't mean they want yours. Assisting without permission can cause fear and unwanted tension. To prevent these feelings from occurring, ask the individual before jumping in to help. If the individual agrees, ask for specific directions on how to help. If a service animal is present, do not touch it without permission. These animals are highly trained and well-behaved, so it is best to proceed cautiously to avoid mishaps. If the individual has a mobility aid, please only touch this if you have been permitted to do so. If the individual hasn't given you approval and you go about touching or moving equipment, this could result in safety issues.
Ask Questions
It's okay to ask questions! People are often skeptical of asking questions as they do not want to call attention to someone's disability. Avoiding an obvious question can bring more attention to the issue than simply addressing it so please do not hesitate to ask questions. Just make sure they are appropriate questions and aren't disrespectful or demeaning in nature.
Be Respectful
When interactions begin, always consider the person first, not the disability. People often feel they should speak slower or louder, especially if they're interacting with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, but this can come off as offensive. If you're interacting with someone hard of hearing, look directly at them so they can read your lips and follow other visual cues. Additionally, be sure to avoid interrupting while they are communicating with you.
While a disability plays a part in someone's life, it does not define who a person is. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and people with disabilities are no different. Are you ready to help those who accept assistance when the situation arises?
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