Accessible Mainstreet

Tipsheet

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN VISITING OR DELIVERING TO YOUR CUSTOMERS WITH DISABILITIES AT HOME

Everyone is different in some way. Each of us has a different way of doing things and there are some things we can’t do without some help from people, or from machines and products that are easy to use.

Here are some tips on serving customers with disabilities at home:

• Don‘t arrive unexpectedly, and confirm the details before you arrive.
• Be patient. You may need to wait a few moments for your customer to open the door.
• Don’t refer to the disability, and never use phrases like “handicapped”.
• Introduce yourself clearly. Some customers may not be able to read identity cards and may instead have a password. Check before you visit.
• Keep your customer up to date on what you’re doing.
• If you need to move some of your client's possessions, make sure that you leave the customer's house exactly as when you arrived. For example, you don’t want someone with a visual impairment to trip because you moved the sofa.
• If you can’t complete the job, clearly explain what will happen next. Make another appointment, and leave a contact number in case there are problems.
  

Based on: “May I Help You?” – Welcoming Customers with Disabilities” Resource Package, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, Ministry of Community and Social Services, 2005