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• Treat disabled people with dignity, respect and patience.

• Don't make assumptions about an individual's ability to do certain things. Disabled people develop their own methods of overcoming their day-to-day problems.

• Don't think that offering your assistance is automatically required or welcome. Make sure you wait until your offer is accepted. Also in that case, listen to the instructions you are given by the disabled person, and don't assume you know best.

• Make the same physical contact as you would with anyone else. Don't help someone without first asking the person if they would like some help.

• If you feel uncomfortable by someone's appearance, don't show it. Make eye contact as you would with anyone else and avoid staring. Never ask "What happened to you?"

• Use the right kind of language:

1. Avoid: the disabled say instead: disabled person/people

2. Avoid: handicapped/cripple/invalid say instead: disabled person

3. Avoid: victim of/suffering from say instead: person who has/person with ….

4. Avoid:wheelchair bound say instead: wheelchair user

5. Avoid: the Blind say instead: people with visual impairment

6. Avoid: The Deaf say instead: people with a hearing impairment

7. Avoid: able bodied say instead: non-disabled

8. Avoid: spastic say instead: person with cerebral palsy

9. Avoid: mental handicap, retard say instead: person with a learning difficulty

10. Avoid: epileptic/asthmatic/arthritic/diabetic/dyslexic/schizophrenic say instead: person who has …. Person with …..

• When meeting a person with HEARING LOSS, remember to speak to the person you are meeting directly rather than the interpreter or assistant.

• If you want to catch the person's attention, try to touch their shoulder lightly or wave your hand.

• Don't shout at a deaf person, that doesn't help. Use written notes instead.

• When meeting people who LIP-READ, remember to look directly at the person speaking clearly and slowly.

• Speak in short sentences.

• Do not cover your mouth with your hands otherwise the person might not understand you.

• If you try to convey something use gestures and facial expressions.

• When meeting people with a LOSS OF VISION and you need to offer a seat, place the person's hand on the back of the chair, or onto its arm, so that they have an idea of how the chair is positioned.

• Introduce yourself clearly and anyone else who is also present. Explain where other people are sitting in the room.

• Don't leave the person talking to an empty space. Say something that shows that you have moved or finished talking to them.

• When meeting the person make sure that the meeting is clearly signposted or a staff member is on hand to offer assistance.

• When shaking hands advise a blind or partially sighted person that you are about to shake their hand, as they may not see your hand.

• Do not pat or distract a guide dog while he/she has their harness on, and under no circumstances should you feed it.

• When meeting people with SPEECH IMPAIRMENT, remember to be encouraging, patient and attentive.

• Don't correct or speak for the person. Don't interrupt finishing sentences for them.

• If possible try to ask questions that require just a nod of the head or short answers.

• If it is difficult for you to understand, say so and don't pretend. Repeat instead what you do understand.

• When meeting people who are WHEELCHAIR USERS remember, to stand in front of them and to place yourself at their eye level.

• Don't move around. They shouldn't have to change position in order to see you. And remember to push the wheelchair only with the permission of the user.

• Talk directly to the wheelchair user, not to the colleague or assistant.

• Don't lean on a wheelchair - that means you are invading the body space of the user.

• When arranging to meet people with impaired mobility you should consider the following points: is there a step-free entrance or a ramp or a lift? Are there suitable toilet facilities? Are there suitable parking facilities? Has reception been notified so that assistance can be provided if necessary?

ISABILITY IN INTERVIEWS:

• If you conduct an interview with a person with a disability, focus on the abilities, skills and achievements, rather than on the person's disability. Interview questions concerning a person's disability should be strictly relevant to the post!

• Don't ask questions such as: "What is your disability? Do you think you are really capable of doing this job? How would you manage if you were required to leave this building in an emergency?"

Thanks for your interest. Karin Schroeck-Singh