wikiYay logo
The wiki that will make you say yay™

Sponsored

Ray
Read more about the authorhere.

Yoosun
Check out the trailer for Yoosun Chung's book "I Want to Be a Decent person"

How to Befriend Someone With a disAbility

by Ray Dominguez

posted February 2018

When greeting them or meeting them for the first time...

DO

shake their hand

fish

NO

try again.

shake

Good.

This shows that you are:

a. being respectful of them

b. acknowledging them as an equal (because that's what they are)

c. treating them the same way you treat your other friends or peers

DON'T

ignore them or talk around them

meanie

This makes the other person feel bad about themselves, and it says a lot about your character. Remember that everyone is different, and just because their difference(s) might be more obvious to you, doesn't mean that you should treat them as anything less than another person.

DO

give them a hug

hug

If the two of you are okay with it, go ahead and give them a hug. This is a common greeting amongst friends and hugs almost always make everything better

Once the two of you have become familiar with each other, you might want to start hanging out with them outside of wherever the two of you met. A popular option on campus is Southside. Sooooooo

When eating at southside with your friend...

DON'T

try to feed them

frans

UNLESS

they ask for assistance. Helping may often be seen as an act of kindness, but in this case it can easily be misunderstood as pity. You don't want your friend to think you see them as less than equal.

DON'T

crack an egg over their head

hehehe

This might sound silly, but if you are someone who has not been around another person with a disability before, you may feel nervous. And that's okay! Try to focus on what the two of you have in common vs what makes you different. (And keep those nerves under control. No food fights allowed!)

DO

act natural.

naturale

They're your friend! (Or they will be if you follow these instructions) So don't be nervous. You got this, I believe in you.

DO

enjoy your meal together

hehehe

Salad is the most important meal of the day, and talking with a good friend always makes a meal taste better. Make conversation. And if you're too awkward to make conversation, show them your favorite memes. That's always a great way to bond.

After leaving your friend...

DON'T

be sad that the two of you aren't together at the moment

hegotdatcaaaaaake

I know the two of you had a great time *cough* thanks to me *cough* and you never wanted it to end, but hopefully the two of you exchanged contact information. Now you can ask to hang out whenever.

DO

look forward to seeing them again

that'sallfolks

Thanks to this fantastic article you have now earned yourself a new friend. Congratulations!