Earlier this week, we addressed when it’s appropriate and how to ask a person with a disability whether they need assistance. But in addition to what you should say, there are a whole lot of things you shouldn’t say. Some of these things may seem obvious – but I have heard them time and time again.
Here are some things you should NOT say or do to someone in a wheelchair – under any circumstances.
- Stop with the jokes. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard comments like, “Slow down or I am going to give you a speeding ticket.” I know no harm is meant, but this kind of humor is not appreciated.
- Don’t compare. I don’t want to hear, “I was in a wheelchair once for two weeks, so I know what you are going through.” No. Just… no. No, you don’t. It is tough to even know what type of disability someone has just by looking at them, so comparing it to a short term condition you might have had is not proper. Again, I know no harm is meant – but just try to think about how it sounds to the person you are saying it to.
- No need to squat. You do not need to lean down to get closer to someone in a wheelchair to have a conversation. It is completely appropriate for you to stand upright and talk to someone who is sitting in a wheelchair. Take the wheelchair away, and think of how many times you have had a conversation while you are standing up and the other person is sitting in an office chair. This is no different.
- Um… hello? When a couple is out together and one is in a wheelchair and the other is not, please don’t take the person sitting in the wheelchair out of the equation and talk only to the person standing up.
- Our partners are not “saints.” Please don’t think that a spouse or partner of someone in a wheelchair or with a disability is an “angel” or a “saint” for “being with a guy/girl in a wheelchair.” I am completely independent, and my wife is not my caregiver. There is a real difference. Plus, people are not looking for extra credit or recognition for loving someone who has a disability.
- Seriously, stop the pity. Please don’t feel sorry for someone you meet with a disability, or assume that my life is terrible because something happened to me. I feel I live a great life; I just do it sitting down!
- Don’t assume. Just because someone in a wheelchair somewhere had this issue or that issue does not mean everyone in a wheelchair does. For example, here is a conversation I had last week with a very well-meaning, but very misinformed person. After I answered her questions about my work schedule (full-time) and where I live (Northeast Philly), she followed it up with this gem: “Oh, that’s great. Does a special bus come and pick you up to drive you to work every day?” I smiled and just said, “No, I drive my car that I park in my driveway.” So don’t assume. Enough said.
Again, I want to reiterate that I know a majority of people don’t mean any harm – they just maybe don’t know what to say. But before you say or do something, I hope you will remember back to these tips to avoid offending or embarrassing.
For my fellow wheelchair users, anything else to add? What else should you NOT say to someone in a wheelchair?
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