We have all been in the situation before.  You meet a person with a disability, and you just don't know how to act.  You try to act as if there is nothing different, but you can't.  You don't mean to feel uncomfortable, but you do, and they can see it in your eyes.  They see it everyday.

But this situation becomes even more critical when you work with someone with a disability.  So what are some guidelines you should follow when working with people with disabilities?

1.  Shake hands with the person as you would a normal person.  Do this even if that person has hand deformities or artificial limbs.

2.  Ask the person if they need assistance before you try to help.  Some people can get along just fine by themselves, and they don't need you getting in the way.

3.  Speak to the person.  Don't ignore them or speak to their helper or interpreter.  Speak and look at them as if they could hear and understand everything you are saying.

4.  Help other employees learn how to communicate with the person with hearing disabilities.  Maybe offer a sign-language course or teach them basic phrases in sign-language.

5.  Give compliments as you normally would.  Don't overdue it.  People with disabilities are still people - they will sense false praise and will not appreciate it.

6.  Don't pet a guide dog.  You don't need to distract it.

7.  Don't be embarrassed to use common expressions like 'I've got to run' or 'See you later.'  People with disabilities use these phrases even if they can't run or see.