Correct use of is/are in a list of pronouns [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate:
Using “are/is” after a list with “and/or”

My company's website recently received an E-mail stating there was a grammatical error in our greeting message. The sentence in question is as follows: "If you, a family member, or a friend is physically or mentally disabled, unable to work, and needs help navigating through the Social Security disability system, we are here to help you!" If you were only paying attention to the last item in the list then "is" would be okay, but since it's mixed in with "you" it gets a bit confusing.

Solution 1:

With multiple subjects in disjunction, the closest one to the verb is the one which that verb agrees with.

The (X or Y or Z) verb

When Z is singular, it verbs, but when plural, they verb. Simple enough, really. :)

Only the closest subject counts when you have multiple subjects separated by or or nor.

• Either my parents or I am going to pick you up.
• Either I or my parents are going to pick you up.