People who use wheelchairs: Tip two
Back in Bible college, one of my classmates had been injured in a freak accident on one of our naval ships. Bob was a quadriplegic. More than once I saw the look of sheer terror cross his face when someone would come up from behind him and, deciding he needed his or her help, would whisk him into our classroom or into the coffee shop. Once we were right in the door — have you ever stopped to talk in a doorway? — and there was no "excuse me" offered as Bob got shoved in the direction his chair was facing.

Bob like to shake hands even though it was an effort to do so. So, we still think it's a good idea to extend your hand for a handshake when meeting a person in a wheelchair. He also had the extended abdomen that comes from paralysis of abdominal muscles and his legs continued to thin; it would have been rude to stare at these features of his, however. And, he used to have to tell some of our rambunctious classmates to not slap him on the back (it's mostly a guy thing, this slapping on the back): Bob put a stop to that since such the slap could set off a painful muscle spasm.

Never, ever try to help a person in a wheelchair to move forward without first asking if help is needed. Don't take it personally if your assistance is declined. And it is perfectly alright to say "excuse me" to a person in a wheelchair if your only way past is blocked by the wheelchair. Just don't do it the way so many people now do it, that is, by saying "excuse me" as you bump your way past.