DO:

• Maintain eye contact, speak clearly, and shake hands or verbally greet the employer.
• Focus on abilities: emphasize what you can do, rather than what you cannot do.
• Educate others about what you are able to do and what accommodations are the most effective.
• Self-advocate for your needs.
• Perform at your highest level. Employers should expect the same level of performance from you as another employee.
• Realize that the more comfortable you are discussing your disability, the more comfortable your employer and coworkers will be.

DO NOT:

• Assume that an employer knows what you need to best perform your duties.

DO:

• Introduce yourself, your disability and how you will perform the job.  Explain this to the employer, as they may have no experience supervising or interviewing people with disabilities.
• Give the employer permission to ask questions about your disability as it relates to the job (Your medical history is confidential under the HIPAA Privacy Rule).

Speech

DO:

• Speak as clearly as possible
• Practice clear articulation.  
• Take your time speaking.
• Give the other person permission to ask you to repeat what you've said.
• Repeat words until your employer understands.
• Use written words or communication device if necessary.
• Work in a quiet environment.

Individuals Using a Wheelchair

DO:

• Make sure your chair is clean.
• Call an employment site in advance to make sure the environment is accessible. If it is not accessible, state the accommodations that may be needed.

DO NOT:

• Carry multiple bags or coats on your chair.
• Place stickers on your chair. If you must use tape, get black duct tape.

Hearing/Vision Impairment

DO:

• Communicate with employers in advance about the accommodations you need in the workplace .
• Inform employers if you need them to speak louder or quieter.

DO:

• Dress appropriately.
• Keep personal conversations to a minimum.
• Remain punctual. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive to work and get settled.
• Be mindful of break length.
• Keep your work area tidy.
• Be careful with spelling, grammar, content, and humor in an email.
• Respect others’ privacy and ownership (knock before entering another’s office, not barging in another’s cubicle, etc.)
• Speak quietly in a work setting to avoid distracting others.
• Use polite and courteous language; absolutely no profanity

DO NOT:

• Gossip in the work place. Ask yourself, “Would I mind if what I am saying is posted on a billboard?” If not, do not say it at work.
• Use cell phone or other electronics, unless it is work-related.
• Eat food with strong odors at your desk.

DO:

• Use person-first language.
  • Instead of “Bob is autistic” or “Marty is wheelchair-bound,” say “Bob has autism” or “Marty uses a wheelchair.”
• Speak directly to the person, rather than through an interpreter or friend.
• Make eye contact with the person, regardless of the disability.
• Ask before you help; the person will request assistance when needed.  
• Treat people with disabilities just as you would anyone else.
• Focus on abilities; what a person can do rather than what a person cannot do.
• Respect the person’s independence; allow them to do what they are able to do. This includes making decisions.
• Respect the person’s privacy. Some individuals may not be comfortable disclosing their disability.

DO NOT:

• Assume the person’s needs or abilities.
• Stereotype individuals in light of their disability. A disability does not define a person.
• Refer to the person as “special needs,” “handicapped,” “suffering,” or “a hero.”

Speech & Cognitive

The majority of individuals do not have a cognitive disorder, but rather a delay in processing speech

DO:

• Listen patiently.
• Use clear language and speak slowly.
• Give extra time to process information.
• Work in a quiet environment where it is easier to hear.
• Ask the person to repeat what they said, slower, louder, etc., if needed.
• Ask the person to write or type what they said if speech is not intelligible.

DO NOT:

• Finish the person’s sentences.
• Rush the person.
• Pretend to understand something.

Individuals Using a Wheelchair

DO:

• Respect personal property.
• Speak at eye level with the person.
• Remain aware of their reaching limit.
• Keep commonly used paths clear of obstruction (trash cans, chairs, boxes).

DO NOT:

• Lean on wheelchairs, hang items on chairs, or push chairs unless asked.

Hearing Impairment

DO:

• Use eye contact.
• Speak in a normal tone, unless asked to do otherwise.
• Get their attention by tapping them on the shoulder, flashing the lights, or waving your hands.
• Individuals with hearing impairment may use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD). When communicating, say “Go ahead”, to signal to the other person that they may begin speaking.

Vision Impairment

DO:

• Introduce yourself and others who are present. Identify your role (“I am a recruiter”).
• Notify the person if you are walking to another area or ending the conversation.
• Offer the person your arm when walking.
• Give clear and concise directions.
• Always ask to pet someone’s service animal. Service animals are not just pets, but a working assistant.

DO NOT:

• Grab someone’s arm; it may result in a loss of balance.
• Make noises at the service animal.

• Prepare ahead for accessibility. Print accessible handouts or arrange furniture to make the area accessible.
• Expect the same performance of individuals with disabilities. Practice equal treatment.
• A “one size fits all” approach is not effective when working with individuals who have disabilities. Communicate with your employees to best accommodate their needs.

• If an individual is unable to shake hands, it is appropriate to shake their left hand or greet the individual verbally, such as “Nice to meet you.”
• Be considerate if you have a communicable condition; individuals with autoimmune or respiratory conditions may have lowered immune responses and a simple illness may have serious consequences. Always cover coughs and sneezes, and keep an appropriate distance when ill.
• Mental illness is classified as a disability and should not be referred to as “crazy.” Individuals who have mental illness may need low stress environments and specified modifications.