Poll Worker Training for Primaries Should Include Voters with Disabilities
Jackson Heights, NY–The 2002 Help America Vote Act includes a requirement that states and localities train poll workers.
Disability Etiquette: Tips On Interacting With People With Disabilities, published by United Spinal Association, can help poll workers learn aspects of many different disabling conditions, and to improve communication with voters who have a disability.
Disability Etiquette first covers some basic interaction principles that apply to most people with disabilities, including:
-Offer assistance or wait to be asked for it—don’t assume the voter with a disability needs help
-Avoid physical contact with the voter and her assistive device—such equipment is part of her personal space
-Speak directly to the voter with a disability—not to his spouse, companion, or health aide
Disability Etiquette next provides detailed information on accommodating voters with mobility, sight, and hearing disabilities, such as:
-Keep all ramps and wheelchair-accessible entrances to the polling place unlocked, and unblocked
-Since many primaries are contested in the winter season, keep the accessible path of travel to the polling place clear of snow and ice
-Identify yourself before you initiate a conversation with a voter who is blind
-Be prepared to communicate using hand-written notes with a voter who is Deaf
Disability Etiquette also includes information on the nature of other disabling conditions such as speech disabilities; persons of short stature; cerebral palsy; Tourette Syndrome; people who look different; hidden disabilities; epilepsy; multiple chemical sensitivity; respiratory conditions; HIV & AIDS; psychiatric disabilities; and, cognitive disabilities.
This pamphlet can be downloaded at http://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/DisabilityEtiquette.pdf. or a Spanish language version at http://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/etiqueta_disapacidad.pdf. There is no charge to download these publications although printed copies have to be ordered by calling (800) 404-2898.