General Communication and Interaction Tips

culledfrom:http://spot.pcc.edu

1. Treat the person as you would any other adult.
   
   
2. Just be yourself.  Use a normal tone of voice and body gestures.
   
   
3. If introduced to a person with limited hand use, it's fine to shake the left hand or
   touch the person on the shoulder or arm when greeting.
   
   
4. Most people with disabilities try to be as independent as possible and will only
   ask for assistance if they need it.  However, if you sense a person is having
   difficulty or could use help, it's fine to offer assistance.  If your offer for assistance
   is accepted, don't be embarrassed or afraid to admit that you don't know what to
   do or how to help.  Simply ask the person for instructions, and he or she will
   gladly instruct you.
   
   
5. Know where accessible restrooms, drinking fountains, parking spaces, and
   telephones are located for providing directions.
   
   
6. Know the accessible layout of your building -- accessible entrances, meeting
   room locations, and routes for accessing -- for providing directions.
   
   
7. Speak and ask questions directly to the person with a disability, not to another
   person who may be accompanying the person.
   
   
8. Feel free to use common expressions like -- "I see" or "See you later" to a person
   with a vision impairment;  "I hear what you're saying" to a person with a hearing
   loss;  "Let's walk over to the cafeteria" to a person using a wheelchair, and so on.
   Just speak naturally and be yourself.
   
   
9. If a person has a service dog, don't pet or otherwise distract the dog when the dog
   is working (when the harness, jacket, or special leash is on).  If the person offers to
   let you pet the dog, that's fine.
   
   
10. Check to be sure the physical layout of the area is accessible and free of obstacles,
    like coat racks, trash bins, brochure stands, and other items blocking pathways.
    
    
11. Be sure aisles are wide enough to allow access for a person who uses a wheelchair.
    
    
12. If a person has difficulty speaking, be patient and refrain from completing sentences
    for the person.  If you're having difficulty understanding what the person is saying,
    do let the person know.  "I didn't understand that last part.  Could you repeat?"
    "I'm having difficulty understanding.  Perhaps you could write it down for me."
    "I'm not sure if I understood correctly.  Did you say....?"
    
    
13. If a conversation will last more than a few minutes, and the person needs to sit or
    uses a wheelchair, it's good to sit down or kneel to communicate at eye level.