Situation #1

Ms. Ima Lookingforajob came to the local retail store (Save-a-Bunch) for her job interview. As she approached the entrance door in her manual wheelchair, her lap was full with her purse and other assorted papers and items. As she was opening the door, several items fell from her lap. Mr. Boss, who was expecting her visit, noticed what had happened and went to the door. He asked Ima if he could assist her in picking up her papers and other items. She said “yes” and thanked him.

Mr. Boss then pushed Ima to his office where the interview was to take place. He offered her something to drink and she asked for coffee. He gave her a coke with a straw instead and advised her that he did not have any cups for the hot coffee that she could use without getting burned.

As he began the interview he moved from behind his desk to sit in a chair across from her so they could talk at eye level. To make her feel more comfortable, he placed his feet on her wheelchair wheel.

During the interview Mr. Boss wanted to be sure that Ima understood the duties of the job so that she wouldn’t get into more than she could handle. He also stressed the attendance policy.

After the interview he expressed his admiration to her for getting out and trying to go to work. He patted her on the head a few times, grabbed the items from her lap, and helped her out the door.

Situation #1 Answer Key

Positive Interactions

• The boss asked if he could assist at first
• He moved his chair to be at eye level

Negative Interactions

• Mr. Boss pushed Ima into the office without asking if she needed assistance.
• He brought her a coke instead of coffee because he assumed she could not drink the coffee without being burned.
• He brought her a coke with a straw assuming she would need a straw.
• Mr. Boss wanted to be sure Ima understood the job duties, thinking she might fail (trying to protect her).
• He stressed the leave policy, thinking she might miss work more than other workers.
• Mr. Boss expressed unnecessary admiration.
• He patted her on the head.
• Mr. Boss grabbed the items off her lap and helped her out the door.

Situation #2

Mr. Ican Not Sea and his companion, Barry, were at a conference where Mr. Sea won a very nice cup as a door prize. Later at dinner Ican, who is blind, asked the waitress for a Braille menu and was told they did not have one but that she would read the menu to him. The food server, different from the waitress, brought the food to the table and asked Barry what he ordered and what Ican had ordered.

When the food arrived, Barry explained to Mr. Sea the placement of the food, utilizing a clock-type approach i.e., the meat is at 12:00, the potatoes are at 3:00.

After Ican (who wears dark glasses) and Barry had finished eating and were just sitting there talking, several people came by and placed their change and even sometimes dollars into Ican’s new cup.

Situation #2 Answer Key

Positive Interactions

• The waitress read the menu.
• Barry explained the placement of Mr. Sea’s food. (It would have been nice if the waiter had asked if Mr. Sea would like him to explain the placement of food first, particularly if Mr. Sea had been dining alone.)

Negative Interactions

• The food server did not talk to the person who is blind.
• People put money in the cup (charity).

Situation #3

Linda, who is deaf, is a new employee at a large agency. Every Friday there is a staff meeting. Linda’s boss told her that she didn’t have to attend the staff meetings if she didn’t want to and they would provide her with minutes of the meetings. Linda said she would like to go to the meetings and requested an interpreter.

Mr. Hardhead, the boss, knew that Joan, one of the secretaries, had attended a course in interpreting from the local college so he asked her to interpret for Linda at the staff meetings. At the staff meetings, Joan asked that only one person talk at a time so that Linda would know who was talking at that time. Bob told Joan to tell Linda that he was glad to see her at the meetings. After the meeting, Linda and a few other employees were having lunch when one asked if they heard the joke about the blonde, brunette and redhead. Then Nancy said “Hey don’t say that in front of Linda.”

That night on the way home, a policeman noticed a rear light was out, turned on his siren, following Linda for several blocks before she stopped. He was visibly irritated when he approached the car, because she didn’t stop sooner. He was prepared to arrest her for refusal to pull over.

Situation #3 Answer Key

Positive Interactions

• Joan, although not a qualified interpreter, asked that only one person speak at a time.

Negative Interactions

• Linda’s boss said she did not have to attend and that minutes would be provided.
• Joan was used instead of providing a qualified interpreter.
• Bob spoke to the interpreter instead of directly to Linda.
• Nancy’s commented about not using the word “heard” in reference to the joke.

Discussion

The situation of being stopped by the police and not hearing the instructions of the police or the siren

Possibility of placing a decal on the back window to indicate that a person with a hearing disability is driving the car

Situation #4

Kris had just moved into a new community and was eager to find out about volunteer activities in the area. The first person she met was Brenda, who gave her information about an upcoming community meeting. Brenda then told Judy, the membership chairman of the community project, that Kris who was afflicted with blindness and had to have a service animal, Gus, would like to attend the meeting.

When Judy met Kris and Gus she was so impressed with Gus that she really enjoyed petting him. Judy asked Kris if she needed help with finding a place to sit. Kris said “okay”. Judy grabbed Kris by the arm and led her to her seat. A meal was served in which Judy informed Kris of what was on her plate by describing it as a clock. Judy also gave Gus a big piece of meat to eat. While eating, Judy wanted to make a friendly conversation so she told Kris about all the other blind folks she knew who would make her a good husband. Judy said, “Oh, by the way, how did you become blind?”

Situation #4 Answer Key

Positive Interactions

• Judy asked if Kris needed help finding a place to sit
• Described the plate of food as a clock

Negative Interactions

• Brenda’s use of the use of the word “afflicted” was erroneous and inappropriate.
• Brenda assumed that Kris had to have a service animal. It is a matter of personal choice.
• Judy petted Gus the service animal
• Judy grabbed Kris by the arm. That is why she had the service dog. If she was to be guided, then Judy should have offered her arm at the elbow.
• Judy should not have fed the service animal.
• Judy used the term as “blind folks.”
• She assumed Kris would want to date someone “of her own kind.”
• Judy asked Kris how she became disabled.

Situation #5

Mr. Accident Waitingtohappen, who has a speech disability, went to his local insurance office to change his car insurance coverage. Shelly, the insurance agent, began the conversation by asking Mr. Waitingtohappen why he was there. He began to tell her, and then the phone rang. Shelly answered it. When Shelly came back, Mr. Waitingtohappen began again. Halfway through the sentence, Shelly began to finish what he was saying. He continued and she just nodded her although she did not understand everything he was saying. He then said, “You sure are super sexy” and she said, “Yes, I usually eat supper around sixish.”

Situation #5 Answer Key

Positive Interactions

None

Negative Interactions

• The insurance agent answered the phone. She should have given full attention to the client
• The agent tried to finish what the customer was saying.
• She should not have acted like she understood what was being said by nodding her head when she didn’t. (Don’t agree unless you fully understand. It is okay to ask someone to repeat themselves.)
• The “super sexy” comment was extremely inappropriate, not as a disability issue but as a sexual harassment issue.