Disability etiquette basics

Why it matters

In Minnesota, almost 17% of public school students receive special education services. This means that all youth development professionals will engage with youth with disabilities. 

For those new to disability work, this may make you uncomfortable, which naturally comes with new experiences. It can be easy to make mistakes or not know exactly how to interact with someone who has a disability because we may feel that we need to interact with them differently than we would with others.
 

Tips for program staff

Some basic disability etiquette tips include:

• Speak directly to the person rather than their companion, aide, caregiver or interpreter. Avoid talking about a person as if they weren’t there when they are present.  
• Presume competence by asking before you help. Don’t automatically assume that someone with a disability needs help, but rather offer assistance when someone asks for it and ask how you can help before acting.
• Be sensitive about physical contact. People may depend on their arms for balance or they may consider their equipment part of their personal space.
• Don’t make assumptions. All people are the best judge of what they can or cannot do, so let them decide.
• Use person first language, unless someone tells you they prefer different language. Refer to the individual first, then to their disability, when it is relevant and appropriate. For example, say "person with a disability" rather than "disabled person."
• Avoid terms that might potentially have an unintentional negative connotation. These include words like the "R" word, "spastic," "special" or "abnormal."
• Don’t portray people with disabilities as courageous, brave, special or superhuman. This implies that it is unusual for people with disabilities to have talents or skills.
• Avoid using the term "normal" for people without disabilities. It’s better to say "people without disabilities" or "typical."

In some instances, specific disabilities may have additional etiquette. For example, when interacting with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, remember to follow the person’s cues to determine how they prefer to communicate, speak clearly and distinctly in a normal tone, use gestures, make sure they can see you speaking and speak directly to the person rather than to an interpreter. 

You can find additional disability-specific etiquette on the Minnesota 4-H Accessible for All Abilities Volunteer Resources Center’s Disability Etiquette Information Sheet.