1. Speak directly to the person rather than through a companion or sign language interpreter.

2. Always offer to shake hands when introduced.

3. Always identify yourself and others who may be with you when meeting someone who is blind.

4. If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted, then listen, wait, or ask for instructions.

5. Treat adults as adults.

6. Do not lean against or hang on someone’s wheelchair or cart. Keep in mind that people with disabilities treat their chair as an extension of their body.

7. Listen attentively when talking with people who have difficulty speaking and wait for them to finish.

8. Place yourself at eye level when speaking to someone in a wheelchair or on crutches.

9. Tap a person who is deaf on the shoulder or wave your hand to get her or his attention.

10. Relax and do not be embarrassed if you happen to use common expressions that seem to relate to a person’s disability.

Based on the “The Ten Commandments of Communicating with People with Disabilities” by the Access Center of San Diego, Inc., Disability Sensitivity Training, (619) 293-3500, (619) 293-7757 (TDD)