Best Practices for Interviewing People with Disabilities

Best Practices for Interviewing

People with Disabilities

Presented by: Heather Easley

Office of Developmental Programs

Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special

Populations

December 20, 2019

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Perspective:

• Avoid our own hidden bias and perspectives

• Obtain accurate and reliable information

– Used to make program decisions

• Measure the satisfaction of our participants and the

quality of our services

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WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Individual’s may experience one or more of

the following:

• Anxiety

• Greater potential for memory challenges

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• Difficulty understanding/ processing abstract

thinking/ concepts

• Theory of mind

• Difficulty processing speech

• Impaired “biological clocks”

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• Difficulty building rapport

• They might not want to interact with others

• Have a desire to please others, resulting in

untruthful answers

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PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW

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Plan Ahead:

– Talk with someone who knows the individual

– Consider the environment (distraction free,

sensory concerns, triggers)

– Use visuals, when able (pictures, charts,

documents, timelines, etc.)

– Permit adaptive techniques for reporting

information

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PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW

NOTE: Although most Americans with

disabilities prefer to be referenced using

“people first” language, this is NOT

preferred in the deaf community.

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“PEOPLE FIRST” LANGUAGE

“PEOPLE FIRST” LANGUAGE

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Make your purpose and expectations clear:

• Identify yourself clearly to the person being

interviewed.

• Be clear on directions of interview and

expectations

• Guiding the individual through each step

• Avoid giving too many directions at one time

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INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES AND CONSIDERATIONS

Ensure communication is clear and relatable:

• Explore your mutual interests

• Relate examples to things they are interested in

• Make every effort to keep your language simple

and clear

• Do not hesitate to restate to the person what you

understood and ask him or her to correct you or

confirm that it is correct.

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• Use concrete, specific language

• Avoid abstract language and simplistic

wording

• Be prepared to repeat the same information

more than once AND in different ways.

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Set up the conversation in a way that

encourages responses from the individual:

• Provide choice, if able

• You may need to occasionally check to make

sure that the person has understood what you

are saying

• If the individual has difficulty speaking or uses

assistive technology to communicate, allow

ample time for a response

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• When possible, ask short questions that

require short answers or a nod or a shake of

the head.

✓Also remember that a nod does not

always indicate true understanding.

Continue to check for understanding

during a conversation.

• Provide information in written or verbal form

(whatever is the person’s preference)

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Be Respectful:

• Assume competence

• It is important to look at and speak directly to

the person you are interviewing

• Avoid correcting them or completing

sentences for them.

• Exercise patience and do not attempt to

speak for them.

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• Do not assume that the person will be able to

read well; some may not read at all

• Use an age-appropriate manner

• Use your usual tone and volume of voice

• When asking about deficits, reframe potential

“weaknesses” as strengths

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• Offer help or support in a sensitive and respectful manner

• If you do not understand, it’s OK to ask them to repeat

their answer

• Show the person that you are confident in their ability to do

things independently.

• Remember that a response of “can't do” might mean that

they have not had the OPPOTURTUNITY to do it

• Don’t force eye contact; not everyone is comfortable with

eye contact

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Provide “Check Points” to identify, “is the

individual fatigued, confused, or needing

encouragement?”

• Fatigue Probe:

✓ “Are you feeling tired? Or can we continue?”

✓ “Would you like to take a break? I can hold on while you

regroup.”

✓ “Would you like to continue the interview at another time?”

• Encouragement Probe:

✓ “Your answers are very helpful to this interview/ survey/

assessment.”

✓ “There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.”

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PROVIDE “CHECK INS”

Be prepared that the interview

process may require additional

time and patience

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PROVIDE “CHECK INS”

When conversing with someone who has

a visual impairment:

• Ask the person how he or she prefers to communicate

• Make sure to clearly identify yourself

• Avoid changing positions once the interview has

commenced

• Let the person know when you enter or leave the room

• Always say who you are when you return

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SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

• Describe things that are happening – or are

about to happen – around you, when necessary

• Show the person that you are confident in their

ability to do things independently

• When initiating or during a conversation, address

the person by name

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• When handing an object to a person who is

blind, let them know that you are handing them

something

• Do not touch a blind person’s hands

unexpectedly. To a blind person, their hands are

their eyes

• Do not pet or distract a working guide dog

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• If walking with a person who is blind, let them know

of steps (going up or down), ramps, narrow spots,

and overhead obstacles

• Never grab a person who is blind by the arm or try to

guide them. Verbally offer your assistance

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When conversing with someone who has

Deaf or Hard of Hearing:

• Ask the person how he or she prefers to communicate

• Eliminate or minimize background noise and distractions

• When a deaf individual has an interpreter, it’s important to

talk to the deaf person and not to the interpreter

• Do not chew gum

• Look directly at the person and speak clearly and naturally

if the individual can read lips

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• If in a room with windows, you should face the

window so the deaf person does not have to

• If you are utilizing a sign language interpreter,

remember to allow for lag time for the interpreter

• When getting a deaf persons attention, it’s best to

flick the lights on/off or slap the table (the individual

will feel the vibration)

• Avoid touching the individual or startling them

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• Be aware that even a mild hearing loss can hinder a

person's ability to understand what you say

• Do not assume that a hearing aid provides sufficient

auditory access

• Get the deaf person's attention before you begin to

speak

Do not start speaking without it

• Use facial expressions and body language to clarify

your message

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• Avoid idioms

• Visual aids are helpful

Remember that if the person is looking at the visual aid, they are not hearing

the conversation so the conversation should stop until the person is looking

at the interpreter or speaker again

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When conversing with someone who

uses Assistive Technology:

• Allow the individual to use their assistive technology

• Ensure that the staff brings their device with them. If

they can use it, let them answer for themselves

• Remind the caregiver to have their assistive technology

charged (if applicable) and ready for use at the meeting

• Allow for lag time

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When conversing with someone in a

wheelchair:

• Never start to push a wheelchair without asking the

occupant if you may do so

• Don't lean on a person's wheelchair when talking or in

other settings

• Don't remove a wheelchair out of reach of the person

using them

• When pushing a person in a wheelchair up or down ramps,

curbs or other obstructions, ask the person how he or she

wants you to proceed

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• Keep in mind that the personal space of a person

with a disability includes the person’s wheelchair,

scooter, crutches, walker, cane, or other mobility aid

• When speaking to a person seated in a wheelchair or

scooter, sit so that you and the person are at the

same eye level

• When giving directions to people with mobility

limitations, consider distance, weather conditions,

and physical obstacles such as stairs, curbs, and

steep hills

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When conversing with someone with a

Speech Difficulty:

• Talk to people with speech disabilities as you would

talk to anyone else

• Be patient

• Give the person your undivided attention

• Eliminate background noise and distractions

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• If the person uses a communication device, ask

the person the best way to use it

• Do not pretend to understand if you do not

• Repeat what you understand and note the

person's reactions

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• Develop a specific communication strategy

• Ask short questions

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When conversing with someone with a

Psychiatric/MH diagnosis:

• Approach the person as you would anyone else

• Treat persons who are adults as adults

• Do not make decisions for the person

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• Make eye contact

• Listen attentively

• Do not pretend to understand

• Recognize

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References

• Be aware of our hidden perspectives and bias(n.d.). Retrieved from

http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=6357f80c-d82c-4441-847d-

9ccfa0d65dc9%40sdc-v-sessmgr02

• People First Language (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.okdrs.gov/info/disability-etiquette/people1

• Potential Causes of Meeting Individuals Face to Face (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=d4d2c3bc-981f-41ca-a727-

22460fbd99e1%40pdc-v-sessmgr06

• Removing Barriers to Survey Participation for Persons with Disabilities (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://search.proquest.com/centralalumni/results/DB28015558C74A05PQ/1?accountid=36783

• Sharts-Hopko, N. C., Smeltzer, S., Ott, B. B., Zimmerman, B., & Dufin, J. (2010). Healthcare

experiences of women with visual impairment. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 24(3), 149-153.

doi:10.1097/NUR.0b013e3181d82b89

• Supports Intensity Scale Guidelines for Interviewing People with Disabilities (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://aaidd.org/docs/default-source/sis-docs/sisguidelinesforinterviewing.pdf?sfvrsn=6ea53f4f_2

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http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=6357f80c-d82c-4441-847d-9ccfa0d65dc9%40sdc-v-sessmgr02

http://www.okdrs.gov/info/disability-etiquette/people1

http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=d4d2c3bc-981f-41ca-a727-22460fbd99e1%40pdc-v-sessmgr06

https://search.proquest.com/centralalumni/results/DB28015558C74A05PQ/1?accountid=36783

https://aaidd.org/docs/default-source/sis-docs/sisguidelinesforinterviewing.pdf?sfvrsn=6ea53f4f_2

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Best Practices for Interviewing People with Disabilities