As in most things, the right attitude often makes the difference between success and failure. Knowing all the "rules" of etiquette is not as important as demonstrating a sensitive and helpful attitude. Here are general guidelines for displaying a positive attitude when interacting with persons with disabilities:
First – relax! Remember that a person who has a disability is a person -- like anyone else. If you don't know what to do or say, allow the person who has a disability to help put you at ease.
Do not assume anything. If you have a question about what to do, how to do it, what language or terminology to use, what assistance to offer, ask the person with the disability. That person should be your first and best resource, and he or she shares responsibility to make others aware when assistance is required.
When talking or writing about persons with disabilities, emphasize the person, not the disability. People with disabilities are not conditions or diseases, they are individual human beings. For example, a person is not an epileptic but rather a person who has epilepsy. Don’t label people with the name of a condition or as part of a disability group.
Treat each person as an individual, with unique needs, talents and abilities. Just because a person has a disability, does not mean his or her needs are the same as anyone else with that same disability.
Remember this: the greatest obstacle that people with disabilities face in their careers, and in life can be the NEGATIVE ATTITUDE of others!
Employer’s negative attitudes toward job applicants with disabilities are mostly born out of fear or ignorance. Many employers are:
- Afraid of being sued and of worker’s comp claims
- Afraid if they hire that person they can never fire them
- Afraid of impact on co-workers
- Afraid the person cannot do the job
- Afraid the person will be injured on the job or cause others to be injured
- Afraid of doing something to insult or embarrass a person with a disability
- Afraid that job accommodations will be expensive and/or disruptive
The goal of this handbook to promote positive attitudes toward people with disabilities based on a foundation of informed respect for each individual’s rights to enjoy equal privileges and benefits of employment.
