Your questions about disability, accessibility, inclusion and everyday disability life — answered and explained clearly
Welcome to Ask AbillityU
Have you ever had a question about disability but wondered whether it was okay to ask?
Maybe you’ve seen something you didn’t understand. Perhaps you’ve wondered how a disabled person manages a particular part of everyday life. Or maybe you’ve simply been curious about something you’ve never experienced yourself.
You’re not alone.
Ask AbillityU was created to answer the everyday questions that non-disabled people often have about disabled people and disability.
We know that disability can sometimes feel like a subject people are unsure how to talk about. People may worry about saying the wrong thing, asking an inappropriate question, or offending someone. As a result, they sometimes don’t ask at all.
But not knowing something isn’t a bad thing.
Asking a respectful question can be the beginning of understanding.
That’s what Ask AbillityU is here for.
Why did we create Ask AbillityU?
We started noticing something happening regularly on social media, particularly on platforms such as TikTok.
People were asking disabled creators questions.
Some questions were serious. Some were practical. Some were about everyday situations. Some were questions that a non-disabled person might never have thought about before.
And sometimes, the same questions appeared again and again.
That got us thinking:
Why not answer them?
Rather than leaving people to search through hundreds of social media comments, Ask AbillityU brings those questions together in one place.
Here, we can take the time to explain things properly.
You might arrive here because you’ve seen one of our TikTok or YouTube videos. You might have found us through Google. Or you might simply have a question about disability and decided to look for an answer.
However you got here, you’re welcome.
There are no stupid questions — but there are respectful ways to ask
One of the biggest aims of Ask AbillityU is to make conversations about disability easier.
If you’ve never experienced disability yourself, there are naturally going to be things you don’t understand.
You might wonder why someone uses a particular piece of equipment.
You might wonder why someone who can walk sometimes uses a wheelchair.
You might wonder why someone needs an accessibility adjustment.
You might wonder whether it’s okay to offer assistance.
You might wonder what you should say when meeting someone with a disability.
These are all things people can be curious about.
The important part is how we ask and how we respond.
Ask with respect.
Don’t make assumptions.
Listen to the answer.
And remember that one disabled person’s experience isn’t automatically the experience of every disabled person.
Disability isn’t one experience
This is particularly important when reading the answers on Ask AbillityU.
There is no single way to be disabled.
Disability can affect people in very different ways. Some disabilities are visible. Others are invisible. Some people are disabled from birth, while others become disabled later in life.
Some people need significant support with everyday activities. Others live independently but may need particular adjustments or support in specific situations.
Some disabled people use wheelchairs, walking aids or other equipment. Others don’t.
Some people have good days and difficult days.
Some people openly talk about their disability. Others prefer to keep personal details private.
That’s why our answers will focus on understanding rather than making assumptions.
When we share personal experiences, we’ll make it clear that we’re sharing an experience rather than claiming that it applies to every disabled person.
So, what questions can you ask?
Pretty much anything relating to everyday disability, as long as the question is approached respectfully.
Ask AbillityU will explore questions about things such as:
- Everyday life with a disability
- Visible and invisible disabilities
- Accessibility
- Mobility and mobility equipment
- Disability etiquette
- Communication
- Offering assistance
- Social situations
- Disability misconceptions
- Disability in public spaces
- Disability and technology
- Inclusion
- Reasonable adjustments
- Disability in education and employment
- Questions people may feel awkward asking
Some questions might have a straightforward answer.
Others might require a little more explanation.
And sometimes the honest answer will be:
It depends.
That’s because disability isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Some of the questions people really want to ask
This is where Ask AbillityU gets interesting.
We’re interested in the real questions people have, not just the questions you might find in a traditional disability information guide.
For example:
Why do some disabled people look completely fine?
Not every disability is immediately visible.
A person can have a disability without there being an obvious physical sign that they are disabled. Invisible disabilities can include a wide range of physical, neurological, sensory and mental health-related conditions.
Someone looking well doesn’t tell you everything about what they experience.
This is one reason why making assumptions about whether someone is disabled based purely on appearance can cause problems.
Is it okay to ask someone about their disability?
Sometimes people are genuinely curious, but that doesn’t automatically mean someone has to answer.
A person’s disability can be very personal information.
If you know someone well and have an appropriate reason to ask, a respectful question may be fine. But remember that the person has the right to say they don’t want to discuss it.
Curiosity is understandable.
Someone else’s privacy matters too.
Should I offer to help a disabled person?
Offering help can be a kind thing to do, but it’s usually better to ask first rather than assume.
A simple question such as, “Would you like a hand?” gives the person the opportunity to tell you what they need.
They may say yes.
They may say no.
Both answers are okay.
A disabled person may have developed their own way of doing something and may not need assistance at all.
Why do some disabled people sometimes need help and sometimes not?
Because people’s needs can change.
A person’s ability to do something can depend on many factors, including their energy levels, pain, environment, accessibility, fatigue, the amount of physical or mental effort involved and what else they have already done that day.
Being able to do something once doesn’t necessarily mean someone can do it repeatedly or under every circumstance.
This is particularly important when talking about invisible disabilities.
Why do some wheelchair users stand or walk?
Wheelchair users don’t necessarily have exactly the same level of mobility all the time.
Some wheelchair users can stand or walk short distances. Some may use a wheelchair for longer distances because walking is difficult, painful, exhausting or unsafe.
Using a wheelchair doesn’t automatically mean someone can never stand or walk.
The wheelchair is a mobility aid — it doesn’t define the entirety of a person’s physical ability.
Is it okay to move someone’s wheelchair?
No — you shouldn’t move someone’s wheelchair without their permission.
A wheelchair isn’t simply an object that happens to be nearby. For many wheelchair users, it is an essential mobility aid and effectively forms part of their personal space.
If you need someone to move because they’re blocking a route, talk to them rather than moving their equipment yourself.
Why do disabled people sometimes need accessibility adjustments?
Accessibility adjustments are about removing barriers.
The same environment doesn’t necessarily work equally well for everyone.
A reasonable adjustment might allow a disabled person to participate in work, education, services or everyday activities on a more equal basis.
Accessibility isn’t about giving someone an unfair advantage.
It’s about making it possible for people to participate.
We’re here to make disability conversations easier
Ask AbillityU isn’t about telling people off for not knowing something.
It’s about helping people learn.
We believe that better understanding can lead to better inclusion.
The more people understand about disability, the easier it becomes to recognise barriers, challenge misconceptions and create environments where disabled people can participate fully.
Sometimes learning starts with a very simple question.
“Why?”
And that’s okay.
Ask AbillityU on YouTube and TikTok
Ask AbillityU isn’t just a webpage.
We’re turning these questions into short, accessible videos too.
You’ll be able to find Ask AbillityU content on our social channels, where we’ll take individual questions and answer them in a straightforward and easy-to-understand way.
A question you see answered in one of our videos may also have a more detailed explanation here on the website.
That means you can watch the short version, then come back here if you want to learn more.
We’re also interested in the questions you want answered.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve always wondered about that, but I’ve never known whether I should ask,” that’s exactly the kind of question Ask AbillityU is designed to explore.
Have a question for AbillityU?
We’re building Ask AbillityU around the questions people actually ask.
So if there’s something you’ve always wondered about disability, accessibility or everyday life as a disabled person, let us know.
Your question could become the subject of a future Ask AbillityU video or article.
Remember, the purpose isn’t to judge people for asking questions.
It’s to create better conversations.
Keep learning with AbillityU
Ask AbillityU is one part of what we do at AbillityU.
Alongside answering everyday questions, we create educational content designed to help people better understand disability, accessibility and inclusion.
Whether you’re a disabled person looking for information, a family member trying to understand more, an employer wanting to improve inclusion, an educator supporting disabled learners, or simply someone who wants to learn, we’re here to help make disability easier to understand.
Because accessibility and inclusion aren’t just things disabled people should have to think about.
Understanding disability is everyone’s responsibility.
And sometimes, understanding starts with asking a question.
So, what do you want to know?
Welcome to Ask AbillityU.