People who use wheelchairs have different disabilities. Some can use only their arms and hands, while other can get out of their wheelchairs and even walk for short distances. We often want to assist someone in a wheelchair, but we don’t want to cross any boundaries or accidentally offend someone. Here’s how to find a good balance.
-
- Offer assistance only if the person appears to need it. If she/he does want help, ask how before you act. If you help someone down a curb without waiting for instructions, you may dump him/her out of the chair, or detach the chair’s parts if you lift it by the handles or the footrest.
-
- Some people with disabilities depend on their arms for balance. Grabbing them by their arms, even if your intention is to assist, could knock them off balance.
-
- Avoid patting a person on the head and touching or pushing his/her wheelchair without permission. People with disabilities consider their equipment as part of their personal space.
-
- Always speak directly to the person with a disability, not to his companion, aide or sign language interpreter, and talk to him/her as you would to anyone else. If possible, sit at his/her level, otherwise stand at a slight distance so that he/she isn’t straining his/her neck to make eye contact with you.
-
- People with disabilities are the best judge of what they can or cannot do. Don’t make decisions for them about participating in any activity.
-
- Don’t lean over someone who uses a wheelchair to shake another person’s hand or ask him/her to hold coats. Setting your drink on the desktop attached to someone’s wheelchair is a definite no-no.
-
- Be aware of how far a person in a wheelchair can reach. Place as many items as possible within his/her grasp.
-
- When shopping, be aware of scooter/wheelchair users. Walk as you would drive and be mindful that wheelchair users don’t have brakes and don’t like being forced to say things like “May I get past?”
-
- Don’t even think of parking in a spot for the handicapped. If you dare do so, you deserve to be given that hefty fine!
Sources
www.unitedspinal.org
www.wikihow.com