AIBU to think this interview question was off?

I’d complain if I were you. I work for the NHS & interview as part of my role. You ask a set of questions that are submitted to HR beforehand, you ask everyone the same questions & you certainly don’t ask questions on how a disability might affect someone & whether they think they might have a diagnosis of something else. It’s disability discrimination.

Was an EDI rep part of the panel?

Yes, completely off. I would complain.

Me neither. I have never seen the equality monitoring forms.

You are being interviewed for an admin role not a project management role

I’ve interviewed loads of people for NHS roles. I can’t remember ever seeing this information in the info packs we are given about candidates so I’m shocked it was even accessible.

We are also supposed to answer the same questions to all candidates, however I will still ask supplementary questions to try to give them the opportunity to demonstrate relevant skills. I want the best person for the job, not the best interviewee. However even if I did have access to EDI info, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to ask a question based on it!

I know nothing about HR but I'm quite shocked by this. It's one thing to ask about what you have disclosed but to link a different need is bizarre and really rude. Also it makes no sense, if you have already disclosed 2 things why not disclose 3? I would think dyslexia would have more of an impact that adhd, but they didn't query this. Maybe they are not allowed so they were trying to find an alternative way to quiz you? Either way YANBU at all, I'd be very upset by this.

I am dyspraxic, I am very much a task finisher, I hold a very senior role in the justice sector. DH has ADHD he is not dyspraxic at all, he has a senior/management role in criminal justice mental health services, and was recently promoted. In my line if work that connect would warrant an investigation. It's discriminatory.

Exactly. This is terrible

Completely inappropriate! I’m nhs and have interviewed many people over the years. We have to have someone trained in edi in the interview with us now, have an approved list of questions about competencies and definitely not allowed to deviate. Complain to the recruiting manager.

That isn’t relevant to the OP’s question - but yes, in some cases they are regarded as disabilities. They’re developmental and neurodivergent conditions and if an applicant feels their life is sufficiently affected then they can/should declare them as disabilities. They can certainly require reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act.

I’m dyspraxic and I don’t consider myself disabled but it’s perfectly valid for other people to declare their dyspraxia as a disability.

When we interview (clinical NHS) we have set questions and we only ask, and score, those. As PP have said, it would be reasonable to have a question we asked everyone that was about completing tasks. It wouldn't be reasonable to only ask someone who had disclosed a disability, and definitely not to suggest a diagnosis for you!

Unacceptable. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I would report them

That's bizarre. It's ableist against those with ADHD to imply they are incapable of completing tasks. That's simply not true.

It's also ableist to 'diagnose' people with disabilities they do not have simply because they disclosed two separate unrelated disabilities. Based on meeting them for no more than a few minutes?!

They sound absolutely dreadful really.

Horrifying that a presumably trained interviewer should ask something so inappropriate.
Find out if they'd be your line manager before accepting the job.

Yes they are. (DH got a sit-stand desk because of it, lucky duck.)

That question is completely discriminatory, OP. Equal to questioning whether you could navigate your wheelchair around the halls to make it to your desk in time.

This is what I’m wondering

Totally inappropriate for them to diagnose you and make assumptions

the only question they should ask regarding disabilities is whether you need any adjustments.

i don’t recommend disclosing until you are offered a job unless you need adjustments for interviews.

you should put in a complaint

That’s outrageous, and really stupid on their part - they could easily have asked a question about how you keep projects on track without reference to your disclosed disability or diagnosing you with a condition you don’t have.

I’d definitely complain to HR immediately. You’re not getting the job now anyway so I’d take it all the way.

This. We've always been told (large semi-public sector organisations) that the Equality etc form is only for monitoring purposes and isn't visible to the hiring manager or interview panel - they literally don't have access to it. Did you declare your disabilities just in that form, or somewhere else in the application?

Are dyspraxia and dyslexia regarded as disabilities?

How many people were present?

I would raise this with HR.

Shocking line of questioning. Very discriminatory given I doubt they asked anyone else those questions. You've not been treated fairly there. They need to do some training on understanding ADHD too.

That's a totally inappropriate question for so many reasons.

She's right that these conditioms are often found together. But everything else about her question is either wrong, discrimination or otherwise entirly bizarre.

As it happens I have diagnosed ADHD. I am absolutley brilliant at finishing projects and keeping on top of other admin. I love a deadline in particular as it gives me a massive dopamine hit.

(But don't ask how often I forget to put out the bins, lose house keys, don't feed the dog until he reminds me or leave the washing in the machine. Work and kids takes all my brain power)