Is it disrespect?

Hi leahsmom! Well I think that it is very true! One of my aunts is blind, when I was small I would always try to help her around her own house, as I got older, she would tell me that she can do it herself! Now that we are now buddies, she says she hates the fact when people treat her differently...

Hi there. This can be a tricky situation. While many handicapped people want to do for themselves, others need and want help at times. I don't jump right in, but neither do I wait to be asked. I always ask them: would like me to help you with that? This gives them an option to say yes or no, and I feel it is MORE disrespectful to just sit and not even offer! With my approach, I leave them with their dignity intact, but allow them to know I'm there if needed. Karen

That is a good question. I think it is good manners to pull anyone's chair out for them regardless if they are disabled or not. I think it is the disabled person that might have a problem with it to be honest, I know a few disabled people and I always help out when I can. From what I know some disabled people do sometimes frown on being helped out

I used to work with the elderly and we were always told that you should always give them the chance to try and do things for themselves as that is their right.Only if they were to ask for help do you then help them as they need some independance.So thats what we had to do as that is their right not disrespect as i would not call it that.

Really?! I didn't know that. Will it be then incorrect to help an elderly who wanted to cross the street? or to stand out in bus so that a woman carrying a baby could sit? Or carry the grocery bag of your neighbor on way stairs because the elevator is down? For me, whether its impolite or not, handicap or not, I'll still help those people who I think needed my help.