For day 17 of BHSM, I am talking about views of disability across cultures.
Different cultures view disability in different wants in terms of what they call people with disabilities, whether it is accepted or not. and how they go about aiding a person with a disability. These are all more general views and do not reflect everyone in the culture.
China
Terms for disability: “canfei” meaning handicap and useless
“canji” meaning handicap and illness.
“canji ren” meaning handicapped and sick people
View of Disability:
Disability is a punishment for parental or past-life sins
Many people that are religious will visit a religious location to help them find the cause and solution to a disease or disability.
Emotional challenges, like depression, are attributed to weak character, evil spirits, or punishment from god.
If there are challenges in the pregnancy, this could cause a disability.
Families will often feel shame because of the person with a disability.
The person with a disability may feel shame and guilt.
Cuba
Views of Disability:
People in Cuba generally believe that illnesses or disabilities occur because of external factors. For example, cerebral palsy is caused by witchcraft. Again, family members are being punished for their sins if one of their family members has a disability. Parents may hide the child and use folk healers or priests to heal their children.
Some think it is parts of God’s plan to make them better people. Some believe that invisible disabilities do not exist.
Dominican Republic
View of Disability:
Many people that are Hispanic believe that disability is caused by:
psychological states such as embarrassment, envy, fear, worry, turmoil, improper behavior
environmental or natural conditions (e.g. germs or bad air)
supernatural causes, especially mental illness
If they believe it’s a supernatural cause, can result in feelings of guilt or shame.
However, people with disabilities in the D.R. have specific rights and benefits. Physical disabilities are more acceptable than mental disabilities, and multiple accommodations are provided such as wheelchairs.
El Salvador
Disability is viewed as a disease typically. People that are deaf are often viewed as ill. Sometimes people with disabilities are viewed as beggars, and it is expected that they stay home and do nothing.
People with acquired disabilities view themselves as different versus those who were born with a disability and are more accepting of that part of them.
Haiti
Disabilities are rarely discussed, and are thought of as mysterious and dangerous. Again, disabilities are perceived as of supernatural origin and a punishment or a curse. Many Haitians are afraid of disabilities. They are treated if they are contagious. Epilepsy is viewed as contagious. Many parents don’t allow their children without disabilities to associate with those with disabilities.
India
Many families do not want to report a disabilities. Attitudes are mostly negative. People with disabilities may be pitied or shunned. If a child is born with a disability, it is usually accepted as fate and karma.
Jamaica
Disability is a punishment for wrongdoing. It can even be a punishment that happens after many generations. This belief is associated with shame and guilt, and families often hide the person with a disability for life.
In Jamaica, they aloo believe supernatural forces or natural causes are involved.
Again, physical illness is more accepted than mental illness.
Korea
Some Koreans believe it is caused by supernatural forces as punishment for their sins. People can feel depressed, helpless or guilty as a result. Parents sometimes expect a child will outgrown their condition. Those with a scientific background may seek medical help to overcome disability. Korean medical professional do categorize disabilities as human body impairments, intellectual/behavioral/emotional and handicaps created by society. They view disability as an interaction between individual and environment. Professionals believe information and education can improve attitude of disability.
Mexico
In general, disability in the Mexican culture is viewed as either an act of God or
as punishment for something one has done. Physical disability is more accepted
than a mental disability, probably because the parents, especially the mother,
blames herself if her child is not “normal.” In general, a physical disability is
viewed as “normal.” There appears to be a complete naturalness with which the
people with physical disabilities are treated.
In Mexico, someone with a disability is accepted by society and family.
It is the community’s and family’s role to take care of them. The pressure is not
for them to become more independent; it is for them to be more functional within the family.
Philippines
Parents often make a child with a disability the priority. They cope with illness with help from loved ones and faith in god. They educate and rehabilitate the child at home. However, others may feel pity toward the family, but positive attitudes toward the child with a disability.
Vietnam
Interestingly, most people with disabilities are viewed as victims of the Vietnam War as a result of Agent Orange. Agent Orange was a herbicide developed by the U.S. military that is harmful to humans. Prior to that, the view of disability was similar to the ones mentioned above.
As you can see, disability varies across cultures but there are often many similar aspects. Regardless, when working with a family from a different culture, keep these views in mind as you offer therapy recommendations. Many cultures will not seek or do not believe in rehabilitation as a solution. Make sure to share with the family all your options and maybe introduce more information about the outcomes of therapy and how it can help a person with a disability.
This was day 17 of Better Speech and Hearing month.
If you missed the first sixteen days of BHSM, click here to check them out.
Come back tomorrow to learn more about cultural sensitivity as an SLP.
