More and more employers are hiring people with disabilities, predominantly because employers have come to realize that disabilities do not hinder brilliant skills and potential. Perhaps you have worked with a person with disabilities before. But if it is your first time to work with people with disabilities, consider the following tips:

Seek more information about your co-worker’s disabilities

The more you know about your co-worker’s disability, the more you will understand what he is going through. The best way to know him is to befriend him and try to talk to him about it. Be aware though that disabled people have varying comfort levels when it comes to opening up about their disabilities. It is always best to be polite when asking. Another good idea is to research about the disability. There are a number of resources available online that would help co-workers understand how people deal with their disabilities and how to better interact with them.

Be sensitive to their needs

Lobby for office equipment and accommodations that cater to the needs of disabled co-employees. Automatic doors and ramped walkways must be available, especially if your co-employer’s mobility is impaired. The employer must also provide modified or adjustable workstations.

Focus on achieving targets

The most important thing to remember is that disabled people are like any other person. The only difference is that they may do things differently. However, you must remember that you all work to achieve the same results. It thus becomes important to look at your disabled co-employee as a member of your team. Focusing on delivering positive results will help you realize that your co-employee’s disability is not really a hindrance. In the end, what is important is that he can do his job well.

Nobody wants to be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his or her life. Here are 3 ways to help you or your loved one make the transition form wheelchair to walker:

1.      Think it, see it

The progression automatically begins the moment you genuinely think about wanting to get off your chair and start using a walker. You can strengthen this desire by checking out walker models and cool walker accessories. Print out a photo of the walker you like and place it where you're certain to see it every day. Better yet, post it on the backrest of your wheelchair so you can see it before settling into it every day. Every moment you get, visualize yourself using your walker.

2.      Write down what you want to achieve in "x" number of days

Knowing which walker you want is not enough. You have to work to deserve that shiny new walker. Having daily goals assures that you progress a little every day. Remember to set realistic goals so you don't end up frustrating yourself. Do not give yourself a reason to give up.

More than physical improvement, it is a good idea to find a deeper, more personal motivation to answer why you want to progress to a walker.

3.      Allow people to help you

Help does not mean letting others do everything for you. Help can mean allowing someone to cheer you on and to make sure that you stick to the game plan. Help can also mean having them do their own work out while you do yours—think of it as having a gym buddy. You can even come up with a reward system that allows you both to share a good meal or to catch a movie together after you both successfully complete particular individual goals.

You might not know it, but allowing people to become involved in your progression might give them the push they need to develop their own goals and eventually become successful.

Take control

Being in control of your condition is the key. Do not let the situation dictate what you can or cannot do. If you think that you want to do it, the method will follow. Below are 3 simple steps towards athleticism, and they don’t even require a single penny:

·         Honesty in assessing physical capabilities and limits so as you do not injure yourself

·         Set realistic goals as this will draw out your diet and training scheme

·         Start low and slow and then progress towards more weights or more reps, depending on your athletic goals

Think big

The Paralympics is a direct counterpart of the Olympics. It is a multi-sport event for physically-disabled athletes. The idea was conceived by Dr. Ludwig Guttman after World War I specifically for injured war veterans to better the recovery rate. In 1960, the Paralympics held in Rome became open to include non-veterans.

Although not everyone is given the chance to compete as a Paralympian (or even an Olympian for that matter), most communities and recovery centers host competitions similar to the Paralympics. Participating in these events can get your foot in the door for professional opportunities, endorsements and ultimately, a shot at becoming a Paralympian.

The right stuff

Being with the right coach and following a strict regimen is not enough. Like F1 racing, good equipment that the racer is comfortable with makes an athlete stand out from a crowd of talented sportsmen. You should put the same amount of attention to the training equipment you use. Make sure you know them and maximize what they can do for you.

We at GoWheelchair help build realities through mobility. GoWheelchair has precise equipment that helps in strength training and flexibility training, offered to you at better prices than the current market price.