Media & Disability

• Home page
• Presentation
• Partners
• Guide on media & disability
  • Who Created this Guide?
  • Disabled People as Programme Participants
  • Employing Disabled People
  • Access to Broadcast Services
  • Communicating with Disabled People
    • Disability Etiquette
    • Meeting People who are Blind or Visually Impaired
    • Meeting People who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired
    • Meeting People with Speech Difficulties
    • Meeting People with Mobility Impairments
    • Interviews
  • Adjustments and Aids for People Specific Disabilities
  • Glossary of Terms
• Project Development
• Legislation
• Resources
• Interesting Links
• News

Guide on media & disability

Communicating with Disabled People

Disability Etiquette

• One universal rule is never to assume you know what assistance, if any, a disabled person requires. Ask if, and what, assistance may be needed.
• Treat a disabled person in the same manner and with the same respect and courtesy you would anyone else.
• Treat adults as adults.
• Do not make assumptions about the existence or absence of a disability; many people have disabilities that are not visible or immediately apparent.
• Use appropriate physical contact, such as a handshake, as you would with anyone else.
• A disabled individual may not introduce a personal assistant or human aid to communications (for example an interpreter). Take your lead from the person using their services.
• Assistance dogs (with a hearing or visually impaired person, a wheelchair user, or someone with epilepsy) are working dogs. They should not be treated as pets. They will, however, need water and somewhere to use as a toilet.
• Know where accessible (and other) toilets, drinking fountains, water coolers, and telephones are located.