Jan 2011 11
What do you do when you see “little people” or disabled people or amputees?17
Posted In disabled people
Question by Babe: What do you do when you see “little people” or disabled people or amputees?
(If you see them in the mall/store/street)
I always have this tendency to quickly look away if I see them. [I don't want them to think I'm staring.]
But then, I don’t want to abruptly turn away because I don’t want them to think I’m ignoring them or “putting my nose up” to them or anything…
[If it were anyone else, I'd probably just casually smile as I walk by.]
Gah, what is one to do? What is the etiquette on the matter?
Best answer:
Answer by urbangirl
Glance (Not stare) and smile.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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i look at them the normal amount of time that i look at everyone else.. i figure that a lot of people avert their eyes from them which isn’t a good feeling either
I go up to them and say hi, are you from the wizard of oz?
NOT!!!
I treat them as i would anyone else. When i worked at Walmart, there was a disabled guy in a wheelchair named Kenny who was the door greeter. He was the coolest guy in the store. he had a lot of funny jokes, and we were good friends. needless to say, i no longer work there because he was fired for not doing a task he was physically incapable of doing, so i quit in protest along with a handful of others. Walmart hates its employees, never work there.
Hello…
I think every people are same and similar.
no one is disabled or amputee,we can see the power of human in someone,for example:
Mr Hopkins or Bethoven or Mrs Helen clare.
Humans is the meaning of Hope and Love.
Bye…
Good question. As I got older I’ve adjusted to seeing people with different disabilities. Obviously as a child we stare- not something we’re use to seeing. I keep on walking. I don’t know them as I wouldn’t know any stranger. However, if they look like they need assistance say reaching for something in the store I certainly would ask if I can get that for them; otherwise, they really want to be treated like anyone else.
Treat them like I would any other person out there. I’m sure that they get enough people treating them “special,” and I’m sure that it eventually gets old.
What is the etiquette on this matter? As a disabled individual, I’m all for treating us like you would treat anyone else.
I’m from “the old school,” and have always greeted everyone I’ve met with a smile and a “Hi. How are you today?” I’ve always held doors for those behind me; assisted those who were having difficulty in reaching things just out of their grasp; allow harried mom’s and elderly ladies to go before me in the lines at the grocery store; have assisted anyone with more carts than they have hands; have helped the elderly load their packages into their cars; pick up items that have fallen… In short, I’ve always used my manners.
Not saying that you don’t have good manners, but these things have always just come so naturally to me that when others have returned the favor, it never once crossed my mind that they would be doing this because I have a disability. I confess to becoming disabled in my 40′s, so when people smile and ask how I am or if I need assistance, I just assume they are being friendly and treat everyone in this way.
I can’t speak for everyone with disabilities, but if you should happen to see me lurching through the aisles with my cane and leg brace, dressed to the nines with bedroom slippers on my swollen, stiff feet .. well, it’s OK to look. Looking’s fine, because a sight such as this would arouse anyone’s curiosity. Just make it a brief look. It’s OK for your gaze to meet my eyes, and a smile is perfectly fine. Please nod and say “Hello,” when I pass. As stated previously, I will assume you are a friendly person who greets everyone she meets.
“If it were anyone else, I’d probably just casually smile as I walk by”.]
That is your best bet!
Do? I do what I ordinarily do when I pass by anyone. I smile. Nothing more or less, unless I happen to know them.
if i know them i say hi if not i just walk by maybe smile and just keep on going they are just like anyone else
I look at them like I would look at anyone. Just a glance and look away. They aren’t any different from me. I tend to stare at people with lots of tattoos, piercings, or green hair.
How do you look at other people that society considers regular? You shouldn’t look at lil people or amputee any differently
maybe look up a lot of video and pictures of people with short stature/different forms of dwarfism so can become more comfortable and used to seeing them,and eventually not see them apart from the crowd.
it is being around someone different all the time that makes the differences hide away.
am autistic [severe] and do not recognise physical differences as people are not processed by self and are seen as all the same form/object.
had had a trainee teacher when was at special college who had a type of dwarfism,she had discussed it with us several times as she was used to being constantly questioned,she called it dwarfism not any of the longer terms but if use dwarfism around some it isnt always liked.
dont stare at anyone who is acting/looking different if can help it,as it may be different/new to self,but it isnt to the person,it can affect alot of people when they are stared at,as the cause for being stared at is normal to them what normal is to anyone else.
dont try to single them out either,for interaction as are treating them differently for their impairment which most people do not like.
I Am 5’1 1/2 IF I Havent Shrunk Im Also Disabled & Had My Big Toe Cut Off From Bone In Fection In ’85 In ’97 … A Few More Foot Bones, Havent Been Made Fun Of In a Long Time BUT Long Time Ago 36 Yrs Maybe, I Was Made Fun Of & I Told The Dude He Die For His Comments…. I Still Live With Those Words He Died 3 Days Later In a Drowning Accident ….. So …. Ppl Like To Joke About Others,,, Let Them Let It Roll Of Your Shoulder …. Remarks May Come Back & Haunt You For Yrs
They are normal people who just happen to have disabilities or be smaller than most people. The etiquette is to treat them like you treat everyone else. You neither look away nor stare. You just do the same as you would if they had no visible differences. You can acknowledge them by smiling at them, greeting them or whatever you would do if they were a non-disabled person. Like you said, you’d casually smile as you walk by if it was someone else, so do the same when you see a person with disabilities.
Do what you do when you see anybody…don’t over think it like you have been. You really don’t need to act differently, a glance and smile is much different than a stare. When I go out in public some people smile at me and some stare…it’s very easy to tell the difference
I stare at them its normal instinct to gawk at something that is unusual looking or disturbing. Its not everyday you see them. It maybe considered rude but if they can’t deal with it then they should just stay in the house because its bound to catch someones attn. Who cares anyway? JUST U.
Oh and these ppl r just being polite and lying away alot of ppl stare and a glance is just as bad no1 glances at me because i’m black so why the need 2 glance at weird looking ppl? see point proven.
@Richie wow someones tempermental and oversensitive look at what u just revealed ur life sucks i’d hate 2 b u so maybe its comming back on u.ur a mess.
Eh no1 cares about these ppl their strangers if ur not making friends with the oddballs u shouldn’t care.
My mum’s disabled so I don’t even see it as I have met so many different people in my life. I’ve come too see they are just another person in a sea of people.