Etiquette and Sensitivity to Voters with Disabilities POLL WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE

2015/2016

Aristotle

“If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”

Program Goal To ensure that each voter, regardless of ability, who chooses to exercise their right to vote has a positive voting experience, and to prepare you with information, skills, and guidance to:

◦ Respond appropriately◦ Respond sensitively◦ Respond respectfully.

Over

56 million Americans with some form of disability

(Almost 1 in 5; 19%)

Reference sources: U.S. Census Bureau; *2013 Disability Status Report –Florida; Cornell University, disabilitystatistics.org

Florida Quick Stats (2013)*:Persons with disabilities

13.4% All ages (2,590,600) • 4.8 % Persons 16 to 20• 10.6% Persons 21 to 64• 23.1% Persons 65 to 74• 47.9% Persons 75+

Overview

6 Basic Guidelines

Preparing the Polling Place

Best Practices for Specific

Disabilities

6 Basic GuidelinesCreating a culture of dignity and respect

1 – Use “People First” Language• Refer to the person first and the disability second.

◦ Each voter who enters the polling room is a person – first and foremost.◦ People First language puts the person before the disability.

Example: If a voter is deaf, she is a person with deafness - not a deaf person.

• Avoid improper or outdated terms.◦ He/She has a disability – instead of – He/She is disabled.

• Persons with disabilities might use other language to describe themselves. ◦ It is their choice and right to use whatever language they prefer. ◦ You should continue to use People First language yourself.

2 – Speak Directly to the Voter• Address and speak directly to the voter with the disability.• A voter with a disability may choose to have a companion enter the polling booth with them to

provide assistance.

• If the voter brings a companion or interpreter, avoid looking at the companion or interpreter and saying, “tell him” or “tell her.” Speak to the voter.

• If necessary, position yourself on the same eye level as the voter.

• Greet everyone with a smile.• Say hello and goodbye to the person with a disability to make it clear when the interaction has started

and is over.

• Accommodate the voter.• For instance, some voters might prefer to communicate by writing instead of speaking, or some will

need to sit down. (More on this topic later.)

3 – “Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You”

• Treat every voter with the same dignity and respect you would want, expect, and deserve.

• Show the qualities and values that exemplify professionalism. “Golden Rule”

4 – Treat Assistive Devices as an Extension of the Voter

• Always ask first for permission to provide assistance. Even if you mean well, it might be perceived as a violation of the person’s personal space or as being disrespectful.

• Never touch, lean on, or attempt to take control over any aids or devices.

• Types of assistive devices: wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, walkers, canes, eye wear, hearing aids, prosthetic devices, orthotic devices, alphabet board or computer to communicate, etc.

5 – Politely Ignore Service Animals• A service animal should never be distracted. Refrain from petting,

touching or even talking to the animal. A service animal: o IS NOT a pet.o IS NOT required to wear an identification badge, harness, sign or symbol.o IS on duty.o IS trained to assist a person with disability.o IS an extension of his/her owner.o IS sometimes used for a disability or difficulty that is not apparent.

• Allow the voter to proceed with the animal, provided the animal is under control and not a threat to anyone.

• Handle any situation professionally and politely. If uncertain, seek guidance from the polling place inspector.

6 – Provide Assistance without Judgement• A voter with a disability may not always want or need help.

• Not all disabilities are readily apparent.o A voter may not want – and is not required – to disclose his or her disability.

• If a voter indicates or asks for help, the voter is entitled to it. o Do not judge the abilities of a voter or ask the voter why he or she needs

assistance. o Do not ask questions about the existence, nature, or extent of someone’s

disability.

• Once a voter requests help, provide assistance without judgment.

6 – Provide Assistance without Judgment

Fact

Situation

Solution

Magic Words

A person with a disability is the best judge of his or her own capabilities.

Make your assistance available to everyone.

“Thank you for coming out to vote today. If you need help with anything, just ask.”

It can be awkward, disrespectful, and even dangerous to try to help someone who does not want or need help.

(Cont’d)

Preparing the Polling PlaceAccommodating voters with disabilities

Post Signs

Signs should be• Simple and clear• Visible and legible• In and around the polling place

Language should

• Direct voters to proper locations• Instruct voter what to do• Identify an accessible path of travel to the polling

place and within the polling room

Clear Path• Remove barriers, objects, furniture or other obstacles that

could prevent easy access or make it difficult for a voter with disability to move safely about.

• Put yourself in the voter’s place - Ask yourself if a voter with visual impairment or limited mobility would have difficulty going through, up or down a pathway, step, ramp, threshold, or curb – or in or out of the polling place or room.

• Keep cords, cables, wires, and other tripping hazards out of the way.

Check Wheelchair Clearance

•Make sure that voters using a wheelchair can approach the sign-in table and fit their chair under the lip of the table.

•Voting booths used by voters with disabilities must also provide accessible clearance

Have Accessible Supplies Available• Accessible equipment, supplies and other interface or interactive devices:

o Ensures you will be able to provide prompt assistanceo Reduces confusion and disruption to voting processo Maintains flow of voters

• Ensure that accessible requisite forms and documents are in place. These include:o Ballotso Declarations to Secure – or to Provide Assistanceo Alternative format forms

• Be prepared with miscellaneous materials.o Extra chairs – to accommodate a voter with limited mobilityo Paper and pen – to accommodate a voter with speech difficulties

Set-up and Be Familiar with Accessible Voting Equipment

Be familiar with how accessible equipment works.

Ensure accessible voting equipment is set up and operational before polls open.

All voters with disabilities have the option to use accessible voting equipment.

An accessible voting system allows a voter with disabilities to vote privately and independently.

Best Practices for Voters with Specific DisabilitiesProviding assistance to voters with specific disabilities

Voters with a Disability Affecting Speech or Motor Skills• Fact

o Varying degrees of speech or motor skills may exist and for different reasons.

• Situationso A voter may have suffered a stroke and is relearning how to speak.o A voter may have a developmental or cognitive disability.

• Best Practiceso Be courteous, exercise patience, and listen carefully.o Encourage thought completion without correcting, interrupting, or trying to complete a voter’s

sentences.o Keep statements, explanations, questions, and language simple. o Politely ask for clarification or follow-up. If the voter is able, ask him/her to write down what is being

said or asked. Pretending to understand encourages poor communication. o Assume the voter is as intelligent as you or anyone else.

Voters with Visual Impairment or Blindness

• Facto It is not always immediately obvious if a voter has a visual impairment.

• Situationso A voter might be able to navigate a room but unable to read, or vice versa. o A voter with visual impairment might use an assistive device (cane, walker) or a service animal.o A voter might walk more slowly or a half-step behind to anticipate curbs, thresholds, steps, etc.

• Best Practiceso Introduce yourself to the voter when he or she comes in - and again if you speak later.o Ask permission before guiding a voter or moving his/her assistive device. Once permission is received,

verbalize what you will be doing. (I.e., “I’m going to place your hand on my elbow/shoulder…”)o If leading someone to a booth or elsewhere, describe the path and obstacles and what you are doing.o Offer the voter your elbow. Physically pushing or pulling a voter is dangerous and rude.o If a voter has a service animal, walk on the voter’s side opposite the animal.o If you escort a voter into voting booth, be ready to help him/her again once he/she has finished voting.

Voters with Mobility Impairments• Facto Varying degrees of mobility impairment exist, and with different needs.

• Situationso A voter who has a mobility impairment might use a cane, walker, wheelchair, scooter, or crutches.o A voter with respiratory or heart trouble might not appear to be have a mobility impairment, but may

need to move slowly or occasionally sit down.• Best Practiceso Remember; a voter’s wheelchair, scooter or other assistive device is a part of his/her personal space or

an extension of the voter. Ask for – and receive – permission before leaning on, pushing or touching a voter’s assistive device.

o When given permission to push a voter’s wheelchair, start out slowly.o Canes, crutches or walkers are used for balance. Touching or grabbing these assistive devices can cause

a voter to lose their balance.o When talking with a voter in a wheelchair, sit in a chair so you are at his or her eye level.

Voters with Deafness or with Difficulty Hearing

• Facto It is not always immediately obvious if a voter has difficulty hearing and to what degree.

• Situations o A voter might wear an undetectable hearing device.o A voter might lip- or speech-read or use sign language. o A voter might come in with an interpreter.

• Best Practiceso Make and keep good eye contact. o When communicating, look at the person and be sure that he or she can see your face and lips.o Speak at a normal volume level. Shouting or yelling is embarrassing, unprofessional, and harder

to lip- or speech-read.o If you are not understood, try rephrasing the statement or question or use pen and paper.o If you need to get the voter’s attention when his or her back is turned, politely tap his or her

shoulder.

Voters with Hidden Disabilities• Facto It can be challenging to know whether a voter has a disability and when he or she needs or wants help.

• Situationso Some voters have developmental or cognitive disabilities or difficulties.o Some voters have service-connected disabilities or difficulties including post traumatic stress disorder for

which they have a service animal to alert or comfort them in public.o Some voters have a heart condition or vertigo that affects balance or ability to stand.o Some voters have epilepsy for which a service animal alerts him or her to an acute episode.

• Best Practiceso Ask every voter how/if you can assist and be willing to do what is reasonably possible to help. o Treat everyone equally and provide the best possible service to all voters.o Know the location of accessible paths, and if available, water fountains and restrooms.

Best Practices

Magic Words: “Thank you for coming

out to vote today. If you need help with anything

at all, just ask.”

Assist Without Judgment

Make No Assumptions

Treat All Voters Equally

Alexis de Tocqueville“The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.”

Final ThoughtsAs an election worker, you perform an invaluable civic duty.

You play a key role in whether a voter, regardless of ability, has a positive voting experience.

We hope that this program has given you confidence and provided you with some basic tools on etiquette and sensitivity, and how best to interact with voters with disabilities.

Thank you for your professionalism, dedication, and service.