ALT Disability Etiquette. Pro-active steps to take to make your club or society inclusive to disabled students. Understand that people are not obligated to disclose their disability to you. Ask before you try to support someone with a disability and only do so when they need it. Most disabilities are invisible. In Ireland, 1 out of every 7 people has a disability, so you should not presume that someone does not have a disability just because you cannot see it. Do not make assumptions about what disabled students can or cannot do. This is the case even if you have a friend with the same disability. Avoid physical contact without consent. This includes canes, wheelchairs, scooters and so on, as equipment is part of the personal space of people with disabilities. Do not distract, feed, or pet service animals without the consent of the owner.

ALT When speaking to someone who is blind or visually impaired, identify yourself. Walk on the opposite side of a guide dog or cane. Ask someone whether they would like you to repeat or rephrase something rather than presuming that they do. If someone does not understand, be patient with them and do not speak too fast. If you do not understand someone with speech and language difficulty be patient, ask them to repeat themselves and do not interrupt or finish their sentences. Understand that people have different communication styles. Some find social interaction challenging, especially with new people but that does not mean they should be excluded. Give written and audio instructions when possible. Do not cover your face when speaking. Many deaf people rely on lip reading to understand what someone is saying. You should make eye contact with a deaf person first if you want to communicate with them.