Interacting with someone you meet for the first time is always a situation where you must leave your comfort zone and overcome your fear and nervousness of socializing. Interacting with a person with a disability is no different than interacting with your friends. However, there are some things you need to keep in mind if you have never interacted with a person with a disability before.

1. Think of the person first and the disability second.
2. Be service oriented! Consider the person’s abilities rather than focusing on the disability.
3. Accept people with disabilities as individuals.
4. Listen to what people say. People with disabilities are no less capable of thinking for themselves than anyone else.
5. Treat people with disabilities as healthy individuals. A disability is not necessarily an illness.
6. Treat people in a manner appropriate to their age.
7. Speak directly to the person, not to a caregiver, family member or other third party.
8. Be yourself and don’t force enthusiasm.

In short:
• Avoid stereotyping people with disabilities.
• Avoid using phrases that demean people with disabilities.
• Recognize that people with disabilities are multidimensional like anyone else.