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