Before you grab the door that someone who is handicapped is holding onto, PLEASE ask them first. I can’t say for everyone else out there who is handicapped, but I know that for me, in order to open that door, part of my weight (and thus balance) is being held by that door my hand is upon. In order to open a door, I have to adjust my balance and weight so that as I pull that door open, I’m also leaning against it. If you pull that door away from me, I can fall because I’ve suddenly lost that balance.

The same thing goes with helping me get back up after a fall. Please ask me first if I need assistance. Please don’t just grab my arm and start pulling. All that will do is cause me to lose my balance again and I’m going to fall again.

(No, I haven’t fallen recently, but last time I did people tried to help me over and over and over again… and I kept on falling because they kept on pulling me off my center of balance. I finally had to be rude and ask them to let me go)