Internship accessibility issues for deaf and hard-of-hearing applications: No cause for complacency.

Abstract

What are the experiences of Deaf and hard-of-hearing students in applying for predoctoral internships in professional psychology? Are internship programs aware of accessibility issues in regard to these applicants? Federal laws, accreditation guidelines of the American Psychological Association, and rules of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers require that internship training programs provide access for interns with disabilities. Compliance with these requirements is still evolving, however. Several recent examples of violations are outlined, and specific laws and ethical issues involved are discussed. Internship training centers must have information on their obligations regarding the provision of accessible services to Deaf and hard-of-hearing trainees, the adverse impact on applicants of certain interview questions and comments, and ways to provide equal access to training for qualified Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.