Be aware, stay alert and remain calm and confident are some of the advice given to disabled people by a national security company.
Disabled people face many physical challenges which make them vulnerable to would-be assailants who assume the disabled are incapable of protecting themselves.
Look out for yourself:
• Be cautious and aware of your surroundings, whether on the street, in an office building or the shopping mall.
• Stay alert when driving or waiting for a bus or subway.
• Send the message that you are calm, confident, and know where you are going.
• Be realistic about your limitations. Avoid places or situations that put you at risk.
• Know the neighbourhoods where you live and work. Check out the locations of police and fire stations, public telephones, hospitals and restaurants or stores that are open and accessible.
• Avoid establishing predictable activity patterns. Vary your daily routines. By never altering your schedule, you increase your vulnerability to crime.
At home:
• Install approved 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 neighbours. Watchful neighbours who look out for you, as well as themselves, are a frontline defence 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.
• Ask your police department to conduct a free home security survey to help identify your individual needs.
Before you go on vacation:
• Plan ahead. If you are traveling by car, get maps and plan your route.
• Have the car checked by your mechanic or a knowledgeable friend before you leave.
• Leave the numbers of your passport, driver’s license, credit cards, and travellers’ checks with a trusted adult.
• Put lights and a radio on timers to create the illusion that someone is at home while you are away.
• Leave shades, blinds and curtains in normal positions.
• Stop mail and deliveries or ask a neighbour to collect them.
Out and about:
• If possible, go with a friend.
• Stick to well-lit, well-travelled 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 a purse close to your body – not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
• If you use a wheelchair and carry a purse, secure it to your wheelchair and tuck it snugly between you and the inside of your chair.
• If you use a knapsack, make sure it is secured to your chair and closed securely.
• In case of an emergency, always carry your medical information.
• Consider carrying a portable cell phone in your vehicle.
Source: https://www.troopers.ny.gov/Crime_Prevention/General_Safety/People_With_Disabilities/
