Inclusive Interactions with People with Disabilities

In honor of Disability Pride Month, Heartshare’s Self Advocacy Council (HSSAC) collaborated on a guide for individuals seeking knowledge, resources, and tips on how to interact more effectively with people with disabilities. We are excited to introduce this guide, which you’ll find below, as a valuable starting point for increasing understanding and promoting allyship.

At Heartshare, we turn to the HSSAC, an advocacy group led by neurodiverse individuals who are part of Heartshare’s programs, because the best way to gain true insight into the Disability community is to engage with and listen to their stories.

The HSSAC meets every other month to discuss important issues within their personal experiences and the broader disability community. The long list of accomplishments from the Council includes conducting educational workshops for Heartshare Employees and traveling to New York’s state capital, Albany, to lobby for funding for both services and the workforce. However, the most rewarding accomplishments that members of this council have said they are most proud of are the overall building of personal esteem, value, and acceptance.  

Heartshare’s Senior Coordinator of Workforce Development, Nicole Wan, has been advising the Heartshare Self Advocacy Council for seven years and has worked closely with its members to create this guide.  

To kick things off, let’s start with a few 'Do’s and 'Don'ts' to aid in inclusive interactions within the Disability community.  

DO: Ask before you offer help, even if the person appears to be struggling with something.

DONT: Make decisions about the person’s ability to perform a task or participate in an activity.

DO: Speak directly to the person, even if they have a companion or a sign language interpreter.

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Remember, this is just the beginning—being an ally is an ongoing collaboration.  Be sure to check out our resource guide in full at the link below and sign up for Heartshare’s newsletter for continued updates and information including on how you can join us in the upcoming NYC Disability Pride Parade Sunday, October 19th, SAVE THE DATE!

_{CLICK HERE to check out our Resource Guide: Inclusive Interactions with People with Disabilities!}