The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (CRPD, 2006,
A/RES/61/106) defines persons with disabilities to “include those who have long-term physical, mental,
intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and
effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”.
A poor treatment and a negative comment can affect persons with disabilities’ self-esteem, confidence, performance at
work place and push them into further depression.
ReadyAide seeks to negate these poor treatments and prevent them from being pushed into further
depression. ReadyAide seeks to address these few steps to make their lives much better
Ask Before Offering Help:
Don’t assume that people with disabilities would always require some assistance in leading their lives
and the first step is to treat them as equals. Understand that they know more about their needs and
how to handle their day-today lives. In case, if you want to extend any support, ask first. Understand
their needs and learn about specific details on how you can assist.
Speak Clearly, And Listen:
If you have a loved one or colleague with mental or developmental disabilities, always use simple words.
Don’t use complex terms, explain your views in simple sentences and allow them to make their own
decisions. Practice restraint and patience while dealing with those with speech disability as they take
some time to finish their sentences. Do not try to interrupt the flow of speech by trying to complete
their sentences.
Make Them Feel Confident:
Few disabled people may suffer from lack of self-esteem and confidence. Remember, many of them
don’t like sympathy and don’t stare at them. Always make eye contact while talking and do not try to
strike up a conversation around their disabilities. If you are conversing with a person in a wheelchair sit
down and talk face-to-face, instead of talking down to them.
Respect Personal Space:
People with disabilities need their own space and may not like others touching their mobility aids
without permission, as you may not know how to handle their equipment. If you want to move their
wheelchair, ask for permission. Always knock on the doors before you enter the room, like you do with
others. Do not discuss their disability with others.
Make Changes:
If you are expecting a visitor with certain disability at home or in office, try making few simple changes
that would make them feel comfortable. Place necessary items within their reach in restrooms,
bedrooms, offer to help with items in shelves or cupboards. Also try and respect their daily routine and
if there is a sudden change in the daily activities help them to cope up with the transition.
Engage In Positive Conversations:
While maintaining social distancing is the need of the hour to halt the further spread of coronavirus
infection, keep in mind to not completely isolate the disabled in your community. Meet with visually
challenged or physically handicapped people and talk to them about constructive topics like work,
family, music or discuss happy memories from the past. This helps persons with disabilities have a sense
of belonging and uplifts their overall mood and mental health in these tough times.
Offer Help with Medical Support:
While it is quite simple for us to stock up on all our nutrition supplements and immunity boosters, go for
health check-ups, consult a doctor online, besides buying any medications for other pre-existing
conditions, it is not so easy for disabled people to acquire their healthcare needs amidst current partial
lockdowns. Identify these people in your neighbourhood, sit down with them and help them order all
their medicines online, set up doctor’s appointments virtually or take them to a nearby clinic for their
routine medical check-ups.
Ensure They Receive Day-To-Day Needs:
In these times of widespread infectious disease, it is very important to eat healthily and take meals on
time. During the day, check up on your neighbours with disabilities, to make sure they have ample
groceries and foodstuffs stocked up in their homes, to avoid going out frequently. In case they find it
difficult to do so, go ahead and help them purchase their essential supplies online, ensure it gets
delivered to their homes and their caretakers, house help is present every day to cook meals and
provide them with nourishing food.
Adjust Your Posture To Be At Eye-level:
The general difference in height between people in wheelchairs and able-bodied individuals can create
an unspoken assumed feeling of superiority and inferiority complex. To be on the safe side and not to
make someone feel inferior, ensure that you either sit or stand at eye level with the disabled person
when it is appropriate and possible. Locating a table to sit together is an ideal option because it can
eliminate any perceptible differences, such as a wheelchair.
Be Mindful of Using Offensive Terms While Conversing:
Words like ‘handicapped’ or ‘wheelchair bound’ are not satisfactory terms to use in recent times. Many
disabled people who need to use a wheelchair might not like the word “bound” because of its negative
sense, which might imply that they’re tied down to the chair. Wheelchairs entitle freedom and mobility
to a person with a disability. Hence, the appropriate term to use would be ‘Wheelchair accessible’.
Handicapped is an umbrella term that many people think indicates a sort of helplessness. The term
‘Disabled’ is more appropriate to use in normal conversation.
Don’t Presume That They See Their Disability as a Tragedy:
Many individuals with disabilities have acted through the tough emotions and negative feelings to be
happy and content with their lives as it is. A harmless statement like, “I’m so sorry that happened to
you,” or words articulated in that nature can make a person with a disability feel sad and sorry about his
or her situation and create negative feelings about themselves in their mind.