Reflection Memo Sample:Personal Narratives of Disability Project

Memo

To: [Include recipients' name]
From: [Include your name and title]
Date: [Month, day, year]
Subject:Personal Narratives of Disability Project

Interviewee and Setting the Stage:

Briefly describe your interviewee, including their disability and some aspects of their life story that you found particularly impactful:**

Leonard Kidole is a remarkable individual from Tanzania living with albinism, a genetic condition that affects skin, hair, and eye pigmentation, and comes with significant vision impairments and susceptibility to sun damage. He has overcome considerable obstacles, including discrimination and physical limitations, to become an influential community leader and IT professional. His journey through discrimination at school, where he received little to no accommodation for his vision, and his rise to a position where he actively fights for the rights and recognition of people with albinism, particularly resonated with me.

**Where did you conduct the interview? How did the setting influence the tone of the conversation?**

The interview was conducted in my room via a Zoom call. This setting, devoid of external distractions, allowed me to concentrate fully on Leonard's responses. The familiarity and comfort of my room helped in easing my nerves, which facilitated a more thoughtful and engaging interaction despite the virtual format.

Preparation and Ethics:

**How did you approach the process of developing interview questions?**

I developed the interview questions by reflecting on the knowledge gained throughout the semester, reviewing class notes, and focusing on creating a narrative that would allow Leonard to share his experiences comprehensively. This approach ensured that the questions were informed, relevant, and sensitively framed.

**What steps did you take to ensure your questions were respectful, ethical, and appropriate for your interviewee's disability?**

I crafted questions that acknowledged Leonard's experiences without reducing him to his disability. I ensured the questions were open-ended to allow him the freedom to express his thoughts fully and avoided any presumptive or leading questions that could bias his responses.

**Did any ethical considerations arise during the interview process? How did you navigate them?**

The main ethical consideration was the use of a translator. To navigate this, I made sure to speak clearly and pause after each question or answer to give ample time for translation, ensuring that Leonard's responses were accurately conveyed and understood.

**Did you encounter any limitations in your research or preparation that could have impacted your understanding of your interviewee's experience?**

Aside from the initial communication hurdles due to the translation needs and some connection issues, the preparation was thorough. However, these factors did slightly disrupt the flow of the conversation, potentially limiting deeper spontaneity in the dialogue.

Conducting the Interview:

**Describe the overall atmosphere of the interview. How did you establish rapport with your interviewee?**

The atmosphere of the interview was respectful and insightful. I established rapport by starting with more personal and less invasive questions, expressing genuine interest in his experiences, and acknowledging his achievements, which set a positive tone for the conversation.

**Were there any challenges you faced during the interview? How did you overcome them?

The main challenge was maintaining a smooth conversational flow due to the necessity of pausing for translation. I overcame this by being patient, listening actively, and adapting the pace of the interview to match the translation process.

**Did your interviewee's communication style differ from your expectations? How did you adapt your approach to ensure effective communication?**

I did not expect the need for a translator, which initially made me worry about potential awkwardness. However, the communication was...