The first two chapters have given us a better understanding of people with disabilities, ways of getting along with them and actions to promote the integration of people with disabilities into society.
Legislation enacted by the Hong Kong government to protect people with disabilities from discrimination and harassment.
Getting Along with People with Disabilities
Listen to their needs before offering assistance.
Give way to people who use aids such as crutches to help them walk.
Sit down and talk to wheelchair users, or talk to them at eye level.
Do not imitate or laugh at their behaviour because of their disability.
Place your hands on the left and right support frame of the wheelchair seat.
Open the seat by pushing your fingers inwards and downwards.
Put the pedals away.
Hold the centre of the wheelchair seat and pull it upwards.
Lock the wheelchair when getting in and out and when stopping.
Ensure that the wheelchair user's elbows are resting firmly on the armrests on both sides and fastened securely.
Push the wheelchair at a steady speed, do not go too fast or make sharp turns.
Be aware of obstacles and road conditions.
Inform the wheelchair user before going up or down the slopes and stone steps.
If the slope is too steep, the wheelchair pusher can turn their back to the slope. They should hold the push handle firmly, keep their back straight and go down the slope slowly. Look back from time to time to check the surface.
To go up stone steps, push the wheelchair to the edge of the steps. Hold the wheelchair push handle and push down. Step one foot towards the tilting back bar. Tilt the wheelchair backwards and push the front wheel up the stone step at the same time. The person pushing the wheelchair should then place their feet back on the ground, hold the push handle firmly, keep their back straight, and use the strength of their lower limbs to lift the wheelchair and push it up the stone step.
To go down stone steps, the person pushing the wheelchair should turn their back to the steps, pull the rear wheel towards the edge of the step, keep their back straight and bring their lower limbs close to the back of the wheelchair to use the force to pull the rear wheel back onto the stone step. Then slowly pull the front wheel back down the step.
When you are talking to them, you should first introduce yourself and let them know who you are.
There is no need to deliberately avoid using the words “see” or “look”.
If you are travelling with them, you can let them hold on to your arm or shoulder so that they can tell if they are walking on a road or stairs.
Instead of using fingers or saying “this way” and “that way” to indicate directions, tell them to turn left or right.
First, tell the visually impaired person that they are being guided. The guide should touch the visually impaired person's hand lightly with the back of the hand so that the visually impaired person can locate the guide’s position.
The visually impaired person should hold the guide’s upper elbow.
The guide should stand about half a step in front of the visually impaired person.
Walk with the above holding position and distance, keeping an eye on the speed of both parties.
When passing through narrow passages, the guide should bend the arm being held and put it behind the back. The visually impaired person will then switches to holding the guide’s wrist. The two should walk in unison at a reduced speed.
When walking up and down the stairs, the visually impaired person should be told to start walking up or down the stairs. The guide should take one step away from the visually impaired person and place the other hand on the handrail.
When guiding the visually impaired person to sit down, the guide could lead the visually impaired person to the back of the chair and then allow the visually impaired person to find their way down to the seat.
Communicate with them face to face so they can see the speaker’s mouth.
Speak as briefly and clearly as possible, using gestures, facial expressions and body language.
Pen and paper can be used to aid communication if necessary.
People with physical disabilities
People with visual impairment
People with hearing impairment
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