DROWSY DRIVING
is equal to
DRUNK DRIVING
~ Get enough sleep the night before.
~ Don’t take medications that cause drowsiness.
~ If you are falling asleep at the wheel, pull over!
is equal to
DRUNK DRIVING
~ Get enough sleep the night before.
~ Don’t take medications that cause drowsiness.
~ If you are falling asleep at the wheel, pull over!
This month is Passenger Assistance month at R and D.
We train all of our drivers on how to assist all of our passengers in respect to their level of need.
Here is just snip-it of what we teach:
First Person Language:
~ First Person Language is defined as addressing the ‘person first’, not their disability.
~ Everyone you transport is a person. That person may use a wheelchair or other assistive devices.
That person may have another type of disability. Those things do not classify who they are.
~ Say “person with disability” not “disabled person” or “person in/with a wheelchair” not
“wheelchair bound” or “confined to a wheelchair”, etc. Also, most people with disabilities DON’T
like euphemistic terms like “physically challenged” or “differently-abled”.
~ Avoid outdated terms like “handicapped”, “mental retardation”, “crippled” or “retarded”.
~ It’s OK to use idiomatic terms when talking to people with disabilities.
Examples: “It was good to see you” to someone who is blind . “Want to go out for a walk?” to
someone in a wheelchair. People with disabilities like being talked to just like everyone else.
Communicating & Hearing Impairments:
~ Face the customer when listening and talking.
~ Speak clearly, with a normal tone and at a normal rate of speed, unless the customer asks otherwise.
~ If you’re asked to repeat yourself or write down what you said, do so calmly and pleasantly.
~ If you have trouble understanding, ask them to repeat. They’d appreciate you wanting to understand
what they’re saying.
~ A quiet environment makes communication easier.
~ If, after trying, you still cannot understand the person, ask him to write it down or use some other
form of communication like typing the information into a phone.
Visual Impairment Assistance:
~ Identify yourself and any other passengers that may be on board.
~ People who are visually impaired may need their arms for balance so offer your arm to them – don’t
take theirs unless they give it to you.
~ It is appropriate to guide the persons hand to a door handle, railing, chair back or other means of
independent balance or guidance should they be searching for such a thing.
~ Describe the setting noting obstacles such as curbs, raised pavement, half open doors, etc.
~ OFFER to read any written information. Don’t assume they need you to.
~ Use short descriptive terms when assisting, such as:
“Curb, step down in 3 feet”
“An open car door to your right” or “Open car door at 2 o’clock”
“Entrance door in 6 steps”
Limited Mobility Assistance
~ Never grab the arm(s) of people who use canes or other hand held mobility devices. They need
their arms to balance themselves.
~ People who have limited mobility may lean on a door for support as they open it. Pushing the door
open from behind or unexpectedly opening the door may cause them to fall.
~ Always ASK before offering help. Some examples…
“Can I get the door for you?” “Would you like help carrying that to the vehicle?”
“Would you like my arm for balance/leverage?” “Do you need help getting in the vehicle?”
Above all else, smile, be kind and courteous!
Sometimes, it is worth much more then any help you can offer.
We train all of our drivers on how to assist all of our passengers in respect to their level of need.
Here is just snip-it of what we teach:
First Person Language:
~ First Person Language is defined as addressing the ‘person first’, not their disability.
~ Everyone you transport is a person. That person may use a wheelchair or other assistive devices.
That person may have another type of disability. Those things do not classify who they are.
~ Say “person with disability” not “disabled person” or “person in/with a wheelchair” not
“wheelchair bound” or “confined to a wheelchair”, etc. Also, most people with disabilities DON’T
like euphemistic terms like “physically challenged” or “differently-abled”.
~ Avoid outdated terms like “handicapped”, “mental retardation”, “crippled” or “retarded”.
~ It’s OK to use idiomatic terms when talking to people with disabilities.
Examples: “It was good to see you” to someone who is blind . “Want to go out for a walk?” to
someone in a wheelchair. People with disabilities like being talked to just like everyone else.
Communicating & Hearing Impairments:
~ Face the customer when listening and talking.
~ Speak clearly, with a normal tone and at a normal rate of speed, unless the customer asks otherwise.
~ If you’re asked to repeat yourself or write down what you said, do so calmly and pleasantly.
~ If you have trouble understanding, ask them to repeat. They’d appreciate you wanting to understand
what they’re saying.
~ A quiet environment makes communication easier.
~ If, after trying, you still cannot understand the person, ask him to write it down or use some other
form of communication like typing the information into a phone.
Visual Impairment Assistance:
~ Identify yourself and any other passengers that may be on board.
~ People who are visually impaired may need their arms for balance so offer your arm to them – don’t
take theirs unless they give it to you.
~ It is appropriate to guide the persons hand to a door handle, railing, chair back or other means of
independent balance or guidance should they be searching for such a thing.
~ Describe the setting noting obstacles such as curbs, raised pavement, half open doors, etc.
~ OFFER to read any written information. Don’t assume they need you to.
~ Use short descriptive terms when assisting, such as:
“Curb, step down in 3 feet”
“An open car door to your right” or “Open car door at 2 o’clock”
“Entrance door in 6 steps”
Limited Mobility Assistance
~ Never grab the arm(s) of people who use canes or other hand held mobility devices. They need
their arms to balance themselves.
~ People who have limited mobility may lean on a door for support as they open it. Pushing the door
open from behind or unexpectedly opening the door may cause them to fall.
~ Always ASK before offering help. Some examples…
“Can I get the door for you?” “Would you like help carrying that to the vehicle?”
“Would you like my arm for balance/leverage?” “Do you need help getting in the vehicle?”
Above all else, smile, be kind and courteous!
Sometimes, it is worth much more then any help you can offer.
 | This months Driver of the Month is Jim L Thank you so much for all you do and being great at it! |