How-to Article

Excerpts from a 1000-word article written to give advice on interacting with people who are disabled. Pseudo names are used in this article.

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Wheelie Wise
An Insider's Advice on How-to Interact with People with Disabilities

Shortly after Mike wheeled himself into work one day, a co-worker slapped him on the shoulder, saluted, and said, “Thanks for your sacrifice.” Mike was shocked. Okay? What have I done? he wondered. Before he could gather his thoughts, the company VP grabbed Mike's arm and shoved a beautifully engraved plaque into his hand. Everybody applauded, and Mike blushed as he glanced at the eye-catching inscription: “For your brave sacrifice in service to….” Mike chuckled. Not again. He grinned, laughed lightheartedly and winked at his co-workers as he explained, “I appreciate the thought, but man, I never served in ‘Nam, and folks, I'm not even a vet.”

Mike's story seems far-fetched, yet it is true. Mike wasn't injured in war. He, in fact, lost his legs in a car accident and uses a wheelchair for mobility. But his co-workers assumed differently. Mike's story is not extraordinary. Of the estimated 47 million Americans with disabilities, many routinely have similarly awkward experiences.

Interactions between people with disabilities and able-bodied people often are filled with awkward moments and misunderstandings. People wonder, What happened to her? Does she need help? Should I offer my help? It's sort of an out-of-tune disability duet that causes unnecessary stress for many people.

The good news is it doesn't have to be this way. Here are a few suggestions that might help:

Forget the Facade

Disfigurements, wheelchairs, walkers—all that stuff—can be an immense distraction. But remember, it's really just a facade—the disability facade. And yep, every day, disabled people contend with this see-me-first disability challenge. Stephen Hawking, world-renowned physicist, exemplifies this concept. If he had not already established his genius before his disability, would he simply be another wheelchair-user with an R2D2-sounding voice synthesizer?

So don't be distracted by the disability facade. Get to know people with disabilities as individuals.

Gauge the Gawk

Gawking is a common disability millstone. The dictionary says to gawk is to stare stupidly. And yep, people with disabilities get gawked—it's that disability façade. Unfortunately, being gawked at frequently musters up feelings of being on display—a side show exhibit. Very often gawkers are simply curious about the assistive gadgetry—wheelchair van lifts, step-climbing wheelchairs, etc. And that's okay ….

© Alice Oden, 2007

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