Small Things Count

People with disabilities are often either ignored or “helped” into a worse situation, causing a loss of dignity that can be humiliating.  Here are some suggestions for when you want to do something:  If a non-sighted woman needs guiding, let her take your arm.  Allow the stutterer to finish his own word or sentence.  A lip-reader needs you to face him and speak normally (don’t exaggerate your lip movements).  Someone who has fallen or is having trouble getting up a hill or curb in a wheelchair is in danger if you grab hold without asking what he needs you to do.  The disabled woman in the bathroom has only one stall she can use, so invite her to go ahead as soon as it’s open.  And don’t use that stall for changing clothes or potty-training your three kids.  Avoid parking in the handicap space “for just a minute,” and stay out of that cross-hatch zone next to it so wheelchair ramps can be used. Deciding what to do is actually easy.  When in doubt, just treat people as you’d want them to treat you.