homeDisability Etiquette
Special Considerations for Children with Disabilities
Treat children in age appropriate ways. Try not to "baby" children who have disabilities. Encourage age appropriate behavior from them.
Do not make assumptions regarding a child’s level of functioning. Do not talk in negative ways about a child within earshot of that child no matter what your presumptions about his or her ability to understand you.
Treat children with severe disabilities with the same respect you would other children their age. Do not move a child without telling him or her what you’re about to do. If you’re working on physical therapy or feeding activities , TALK to the child about what’s happening. Do not assume that s/he can’t understand what you’re saying or won’t benefit from appropriate social interactions.
Do not neglect to discipline children with disabilities when necessary. Part of your job is to help them to understand what is acceptable behavior and what is not!
Do not impede a child’s access to his
typical peers. Try to facilitate as much
interaction as possible. Teach typical children about disability
etiquette.
Special
Considerations for People with Visual Impairments
Do not pet guide dogs. If they lose their concentration, their owners might be in danger. Do not play guessing games with a person who is blind; i.e., ”I bet you can guess who this is...”. When approaching a person who is blind, introduce yourself and anybody else who might be accompanying you. If you have met the person before, remind him of the context in which you last met to help him remember.
If you are asked to guide a person with a visual impairment, offer her your arm instead of grabbing hers
Inform a person who is blind whenever you
are leaving the room.
When a person who is blind or visually impaired is in a group of people, have everyone identify themselves each time they speak.
When helping to orient a person who is blind or visually impaired, be very specific and use words instead of gestures. Be sure to include obstacles that may be in the person’s way of travel. Avoid descriptions with numbers in them, such as “ten feet to the door”.
You don’t have to talk loudly to a
people with visual impairments! Most of them hear just fine.
When handing more than one object to a person who is blind or visually impaired, inform the person which item is on the top, in the middle, on the bottom.
When offering seating to a person who is blind or visually impaired, place the person’s hand on the back or the arm of the seat.
Offer to read written information for a
person with a visual impairment when appropriate.