People with Physical Disabilities
Adapted from training materials developed by United Cerebral Palsy
Fact
- The term "physical disabilities" covers a wide range of conditions, including arthritis, difficulty walking long distances, cerebral palsy, and people with limited or no use of a limb or limbs.
Interaction Tips
- A wheelchair, prosthesis, crutch, or cane is a part of an individual's "personal space." Do not lean on the wheelchair, push it, or rest your feet on it without permission.
- Offer assistance before attempting to provide it. If assistance is accepted, ask for instructions and follow them.
- If the individual is accompanied by someone, address all questions, comments, or concerns directly to the individual to whom you are speaking.
- In order to facilitate a conversation, make sure you are eye level with the person to whom you are speaking. If they are in a wheelchair, sit down to speak with them whenever possible.
- Do not pat an individual on the back, shoulder, or head.
Examples of Accommodations
People with mobility disabilities are not necessarily also deaf, nor do they definitely have visual or developmental disabilities. They may have a secondary disability, but you do not need to make an accommodation for that unless they request one.
- Clear pathways, doorways, etc. to ensure a 36"-wide pathway for a wheelchair to pass or crutches to be used.
- Reserved parking spaces should be closer to accessible entrances and allow more space for entry and exit of vehicles.
- Provide adaptive equipment and products like reachers, adaptive computer mouses, specially designed chairs (see examples at the JAN website) and restructure space to include ramps, automatic door openers, lifts, and lowered counters.
Helpful Resource
©The National Service Inclusion Project is a cooperative agreement (#01CAM0016) between the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston in collaboration with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.