Challenges

We want to address the cultural stigma APIs with disabilities face. Having a disability within many Asian cultures view disabilities as a shameful mark against the family. Many API communities believe in "curing" and "healing" the "broken ones". Many cultures believe in spirits. Being disabled may be seen as a punishment from the spirit or punishing the family for having done something evil.

API families view the disabled person as a helpless individual. The family is ashamed of and feels a heavy responsibility to "take care of" and becomes overprotective of the individual.

This is in large part due to cultural, religious and language barriers. There are social, cultural and religious stigma associated with Asian and Pacific Islanders with disabilities: that people with disabilities should be kept out of the public view; are born as a way of punishing their family for past bad deeds; are contagious; and are a negative reflection on their families. Over laden upon these stigma are the language barriers found in many immigrant families.

Compounding these barriers have been the beliefs prescribed by the “medical model”, that emphasizes treatment and isolation rather than an inclusive approach to empowerment, independence, and support that is a right under Federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.