Interacting with adults with congenital deafblindness: The experiences of disability support workers

Abstract

Background This study aimed to gain greater insight into the perspectives of staff on their interactions with adults with congenital deafblindness in light of the research literature reporting these interactions to be lacking in quality and quantity.

Method Data from interviews with 8 disability support workers were analysed using the approach described by Charmaz (2006).

Results Three key themes emerged from the interview data, which support and elaborate on findings of previous studies. These were (1) the construction of client happiness, (2) the rationalisation of client disengagement, and (3) imperatives of the staff role. These findings elucidate the reasons for staff behaviour in their interactions with adults with congenital deafblindness.

Conclusion The findings suggest the need for staff policy and procedural documents to be explicit about the importance of social interaction between staff and clients.

Keywords:

• congenital deafblindness
• disability support worker
• interaction
• profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

Acknowledgements

We extend our thanks to the support workers and adults with congenital deafblindness who participated in this study, and to Lyn Richards from RMIT University for her feedback on an early draft of this manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.