Introducing Yourself to a Business

Approaching Managers when Performing Assessments of their Businesses

Sample Introduction

“Hi - my name is Christine. I noticed that your business is accessible. I think it's great that you accommodate customers with disabilities. I am a volunteer working on a project called Access Guide Canada. The project creates profiles of businesses that are accessible in a national database that is used by people with disabilities. I would like to complete an assessment of your accessibility features. This assessment will be posted in the database, creating a profile to promote your business to people with disabilities free of charge.”

Of course, this is just one suggestion. You may feel more comfortable with different wording. After all, you do not want to sound like you are reading from a script. Use the sample introduction as a guide, but do not feel it is necessary to memorize it.

Simple Responses to Typical Questions You May Be Asked

Who are you doing this for?

“I am a volunteer with the Canadian Abilities Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization that provides resources and information to people with disabilities.”

What do you need from me?

“I may need to ask you a few questions when I am finished, but generally I will just need to spend a few minutes in your establishment completing my form.”

What if I my business is not completely accessible?

“The goal of Access Guide Canada is to provide a public service to people with disabilities. Facilities do not have to be completely accessible to be listed in Access Guide Canada. We want to let the disability community know specifically which accessibility features each facility has. That way, people with disabilities can decide which facilities meet their individual needs.”