personal space
You want to give your friend a hug. What should you do first?
Ask if they want a hug
Before borrowing someone’s phone, what should you do?
Ask for permission
Someone usually likes hugs but says, “Not right now.” What should you do
Don’t hug them and respect their choice.
Someone is sitting alone with headphones on. You want to talk to them. What could you do?
Get their attention politely and ask if they want to talk.
True or False: You are allowed to tell someone you need personal space.
True
Someone says, “Can you move back a little?” What should you do?
Move back and say okay or no problem.
You want to move someone’s belongings to make space for yourself. What should you do?
Ask first before moving others personal things.
You are tickling someone and they say, “Stop!” but you think they’re joking. What should you do?
Stop immediately and ask if they feel uncomfortable.
Your friend says, “I don’t want to talk about that.” What should you do?
Change the subject and respect their boundary.
True or False: I have to hug someone if they ask me for a hug.
False. You are allowed to say no!
Someone keeps backing away while you are talking. What might they be telling you?
They may need more personal space
You want to know why someone is upset. Should you keep asking until they tell you?
No, you can ask once and respect it if they don’t want to talk.
You’re playing around with someone and they say, “That’s enough.” What does that mean?
It means stop because it might be making them upset or uncomfortable.
What would you do if a friend yells at you after you ask them a simple question?
Stay calm, give them space, and say, “Please don’t yell at me.” You can walk away if needed
True or False: I can choose not to answer a personal question if it makes me uncomfortable.
True! Never feel pressured to answer questions you’re not comfortable with. Let a staff member know if it continues to happen.
How far should you usually stand from someone when talking to them?
Arms length away
You want to help someone with a task because they are having a hard time understanding, and you decide to take over in hopes of making it easier for them. Is this okay?
No, you should ask if they need help. If they do need help you should work together not take over. It might make peers feel incompetent/bad.
You are tapping someone on the shoulder repeatedly and they move away from you. What should you do?
Stop and respect their boundaries.
Someone takes something out of your hands without asking. What would you do?
Say, “Please give that back. You need to ask me first”
True or False: If a staff member wants to give me a hug, I have to say yes because they are staff.
False. Consent is key. Staff should always ask!
Name two signs that someone may want more personal space
Moving away, turning away, looking uncomfortable, saying “stop”, putting their hand up, etc…
Name 3 situations when you should ask permission first.
Answers will vary! Some answers:
borrowing belongings, giving a hug, taking a picture, sharing information, using someone’s food, or entering someone’s personal space.
Someone never actually says “stop,” but they move away, stop responding, and look uncomfortable. What should you do?
Stop what you’re doing, give them space, and check in with them.
Someone tells you that you HAVE to hug them goodbye. What would you do?
Say no or offer another goodbye, like waving or a high-five if you want.
True or False: Because someone is a staff member, they do not need to ask for my consent before touching me or my personal belongings.
False. Staff should respect your personal boundaries and consent. Unless there is a medical emergency that requires immediate action, they should always ask for before moving your wheelchair, grabbing your iPad, giving you a hug, etc…