Joining IL LEND with social work background, I am interested in viewing issues of children with developmental disabilities through the social work lens. I found Morgan et al.’s (2012)* article very exciting in portraying health disparities among racial groups. Similar to African Americans and Hispanic, Asia Americans were underrepresented in early intervention or early childhood special education (EI/ECSE).
Based on my practical and cultural experiences in working with Asian families, possible reasons for the underrepresentation of Asians in the EI/ECSE may due to the belief that disability is a sin for their wrongdoings. Embedded with that belief, parents try to hide their children’s disabilities from their neighbors and relatives as much as possible. Because physical disabilities are visible and difficult to hide from people, families usually seek medical treatment for their children. However, families will hesitate to seek EI/ECSE services for their children with intellectual or developmental disabilities because these types of disabilities are considered as hard to be seen. Lacking knowledge of EI/ECSE might hinder Asian parents from seeking services. When migrated to the US, most Asian families, especially parents with limited education and language skills, carry their traditional childrearing practices with them, They think when their children grow up, delayed skills will automatically recover because their grandparents’ generations didn’t need EI/ECSE. For example, I have met many parents who thought their children’s language delay was not a concern for them when they compared the child with his/her older siblings or relatives. They believe there must be other causes that I haven’t had a chance to explore further.
Being a LEND trainee, one of my interests is to advocate for health equity. I think exploring causes for the underrepresentation of children with disabilities from minority racial groups is something I can focus on. I believe with knowledge and skills that I am accumulating from the LEND, I can fulfill my desire to work towards the best interest of children with disabilities without racial boundaries.
Baby sitting down with toys in front of him looking up focusing on something we cannot see.
*Sources: Morgan, P. L., Farkas, G., Hillemeier, M. M., & Maczuga, S. (2012). Are minority children disproportionately represented in early intervention and early childhood special education? Educational Researcher, 41(9), 339-351.
