Safety for the Disabled

Disabled persons face many physical challenges. This could make them vulnerable to would-be assailants who assume the disabled are incapable of protecting themselves.

People of all abilities can follow these basic safety tips to decrease their chances of victimization:

Look Out for Yourself

• Stay alert and tuned in to your surroundings, whether on the street, in an office building or shopping mall, driving, or waiting for a bus.
• Send the message that you're calm, confident, and know where you're going.
• Be realistic about your limitations. Avoid places or situations that put you at risk.
• Know the neighborhood where you live and work. Check out the locations of police and fire stations, public telephones, hospitals, restaurants, or stores that are open and accessible.
• Avoid establishing predictable activity patterns. Most of us have daily routines, but never varying them may increase your vulnerability to crime.

At Home

• Put good locks on all your doors. Sturdy deadbolt locks are best. Make sure you can easily use the locks you install.
• Install peepholes on front and back doors at your eye level. This is especially important if you use a wheelchair.
• Get to know your neighbors. Watchful neighbors who look out for you as well as themselves are a frontline defense against crime.
• If you have difficulty speaking, have a friend record a message (giving your name, address, and type of disability) to use in emergencies. Keep the tape in a recorder next to your phone.

Out and About

• If possible, go with a friend.
• Stick to well-lighted, well-traveled streets. Avoid shortcuts through vacant lots, wooded areas, parking lots, or alleys.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Carry your purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pant pocket. If you use a wheelchair, keep your purse or wallet tucked snugly between you and the inside of the chair.
• If you use a knapsack, make sure it is securely closed.
• Always carry your medical information in case of an emergency.
• Consider carrying a cellular phone.

Before You Go On Vacation

• Plan ahead. If you're traveling by car, get maps and plan your route. Have the car checked before you leave.
• Leave copies of the numbers of your passport, driver's license, credit cards, and traveler's checks with a close friend or relative in case you need to replace these papers.
• Put lights and a radio on timers to create the illusion that someone is at home while you're away. Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. Ask neighbors to pick up your mail and other deliveries, or put a hold on your mail at the Post Office.

On Public Transportation

• Use well-lighted, busy stops. Stay near other passengers. Sit by the driver.
• Stay alert! Don't sleep as you ride.
• If someone harasses you, make a loud noise or say "Leave me alone." If that doesn't work, hit the emergency signal.

Don't Let a Con Artist Rip You Off

Many con artists prey on people's desires to find miracle cures for chronic conditions and fatal diseases. To out-smart those con artists, remember these tips:

• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Don't let greed or desperation overcome common sense.
• Get a second opinion.
• Be wary of high-pressure tactics, need for quick decisions, demands for cash only, or high-yield, low-risk investments.

The Boulder Police Department, together with the Association for Community Living, also offers Safety First twice each year to developmentally disabled youth and adults.  The program covers such things as decision making, street safety and home safety. 

Last Updated on Friday, 28 April 2006 05:45