Illness & Disability

Home Illness & Disability Do you know someone with an illness or disability? One of my friends has an illness or disability

One of my friends has an illness or disability

If one of your friends has a disability or illness, treat her or him just like you would any other friend. Your friend may want to talk about their condition; then again, your friend may not. You can let them know you care by telling them you will listen any time they feel like talking.

Here are some tips:

1. You can offer help, but ask first. Or wait for your friend to ask for help.
2. It's okay to ask friends or classmates about their illnesses or disabilities. But don't be offended if your friend doesn't want to talk about it.
3. Just because people use wheelchairs, it doesn't mean they are sick. Many people who use wheelchairs are otherwise healthy and strong.
4. When you're talking with a friend in a wheelchair, try to come down to their level—kneel down or pull up a chair.
5. It's okay to use words like "see", "hear", "walk," and "run" when you're talking with friends who have disabilities.
6. It's okay to ask people who have speech problems to repeat what they said if you didn't understand the first time.
7. If an interpreter is helping you speak to a deaf person, talk to the deaf person, not the interpreter.
8. Don't speak loudly when talking to blind people. They hear as well as you do.
9. Never pet or play with "seeing eye" or service dogs. They shouldn't be distracted from the job they are doing.
10. Invite friends or classmates with illnesses or disabilities to sleepovers, play dates, and birthday parties. Think about ways to make sure they can be included in the things that you do.
11. Ask your parents not to park in places reserved for people with disabilities.
12. When you go to restaurants and shopping malls, check to see if a friend with an illness or disability could be there with you. If not, you can be a good friend by asking the manager to put in ramps, get raised numbers for the elevators, or have braille menus printed.
13. Treat a classmate or friend with an illness or disability the same way you would like to be treated and you will have a friend for life!

Adapted from: Friends Who Care, Easter Seals Disability Services

My parent/grandparent has an illness or disability
My sister/brother has an illness or disability

Content last updated June 2, 2007

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