While I’m sure you’re already aware of this, I wanted to take a second to point out some framing you used when you said the following, and a common misconception that people who are not familiar with disability communities or regularly interact with disabled folks often make

I will go out of my way to help them

To anyone out here reading this who isn’t aware, it’s really important to check in with people whether they want help, before offering it. Offering help when it’s not solicited is called ‘patronizing help’, and the difference between how abled and disabled people view this is rather stark. In one study on this, a hypothetical is posed, summarized below as follows:

Mary is a blind woman who uses a white cane to navigate her commute to work. One day, she finds a construction project obstructing her usual path to the bus stop.

Stopping at a street corner, Mary asks a passerby to confirm that the bus stop is one block away. One pedestrian tells her it’s too dangerous for her to be walking on her own, takes her by the arm, and insists on accompanying her to the destination.

Another pedestrian says it’s too dangerous for her to be walking on her own and tells her to go home.

Which pedestrian was more helpful?

There’s a pretty stark difference between how helpful sighted and blind individuals found the two different responses. Just take a look at this chart

So to anyone out there who offers help, please ask whether someone wants help and then follow it up by asking how you can be helpful!