SUPPORT FOR MINORITY TEENS WITH DISABILITIES: CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE APPROACHES TO TRANSITION

1. SUPPORT FOR MINORITY TEENS WITH DISABILITIES: CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE APPROACHES TO TRANSITION Eleanor Gil-Kashiwabara, Psy.D. Oregon Health and Science University-Center on Self-Determination Portland, OR

2. THE “DOUBLE WHAMMY” • Minority youth with disabilities or special health care needs (SHCN) encounter many barriers in their transition to adulthood. • As a person with a disability, youth with SHCN and their families encounter barriers such as lack of knowledge about their rights and school procedures/policies; lack of transportation and child care; difficulty getting accommodations and support; rigid or limited options for their involvement in educational planning; and loss of hope and fatigue associated with repeatedly coming up against these barriers. • Youth and families from diverse cultures encounter additional barriers such as racism, discrimination, insensitivity, language barriers and cultural unresponsiveness.

3. THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS PROJECT • The Community Solutions Project’s goal was to assist minority (African America, Hispanic and Native American) teenagers with disabilities or SHCN to stay in school, go to college, get jobs, stay healthy, and be successful after graduation. • As part of this goal, the Community Solutions Project was committed to developing culturally responsive support strategies by working in partnership with youth, families, community organizations, employers, and other agencies. • Based on the results of a survey and focus groups conducted at the beginning of the Project, four areas were identified as areas of focus for the project. These areas were: youth leadership, family support, systems development, and interdisciplinary training.

4. CRITICAL ELEMENTS IN SUPPORTING CULTURALLY DIVERSE YOUNG PEOPLE Seven Strategies for Successful Transition for Youth with Disabilities or Special Health Care Needs

5. Challenge or Barrier: * Minority youth and their families may not feel comfortable or are reluctant to trust a professional who is seen as “outside the community.” Strategy: * Time must be spent simply “getting to know the family.” * Involve minority professionals who know about the best ways to assist youth and their families and know what will make them respond. #1: BUILD RELATIONSHIP AND TRUST

6. Challenge or Barrier: * Youth and family often face immediate stress (e.g. homelessness, poverty, domestic violence, etc…) which makes it difficult to see beyond the present and start planning for the future. Strategy: * In establishing trust, it is helpful to respond to a need stated by the family, regardless of whether it relates directly to your goals. #2: RESPOND TO A STATED NEED

7. Challenge or Barrier: * Many youth may be unable to identify their goals for the future because they do not see themselves as having options or opportunities that would offer a different lifestyle. Strategy: * Youth need to be encouraged to think about and start moving toward their transition goals, or it is likely they will remain in the same cycle of poverty and hopelessness. #3: ENCOURAGE AND HELP YOUTH TO IDENTIFY AND PLAN FOR GOALS

8. Challenge or Barrier: * Youth may be exposed to a limited variety of real life opportunities and experiences or may feel their dreams or goals are not reachable. They may feel inclined to settle on what is familiar and stop trying. Strategy: * Offer opportunities to learn about different options. * Distant or large goals must be broken down into smaller goals, which are more immediately obtainable and reinforcing to the youth. #4: STIMULATE YOUTH HOPE

9. Challenge or Barrier: * Many youth do not have the skills necessary to effectively plan and obtain their transition goals, and brief, crisis-centered interventions offer only limited support in this area. Strategy: * Help the youth develop skills such as positive communication, assertiveness, negotiation, self-regulation and problem solving so they can approach those people who can help them succeed. #5: HELP YOUTH BUILD THEIR CAPACITIES TO BE EFFECTIVE AND SELF-DETERMINED

10. Challenge or Barrier: * Youth who have identified a goal may not follow through on their plans because of fear, lack of know-how or limited family/professional support necessary to achieve their goals. Strategy: * Ongoing support, frequent check-in, and follow-up is needed so the youth does not give up when obstacles arise. #6: PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT AND FOLLOW-UP

11. Challenge or Barrier: * For a variety of reasons, (e.g. past negative experiences, powerlessness, reluctance to challenge authority) youth and families may be reluctant to advocate for themselves within systems or when accessing services. Strategy: * Professionals may need to fill the role of advocate on behalf of families. It is also important to support families in such a way that they can ultimately advocate for themselves. #7: PROVIDE ADVOCACY

12. STRIKE A BALANCE • We also identified four different dimensions upon which professionals need to carefully evaluate their behavior to assure that they have a balance in their approach that truly supports the youth and families with whom they work.

13. OVERLY-DISTANCED: * Limited contact or not knowing the youth’s needs OVERLY-INVOLVED: * Too personally involved in youth’s life LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT

14. OVER-PROTECTION: * Doing everything for youth, especially in goal setting ABANDONMENT: * Expecting youth to do everything for self SELF-DETERMINATION

15. EXCUSING THE FAMILY: * Accepting helplessness in situations that affect family; seeing them as incapable of managing BLAMING THE FAMILY: * Believing that the family has brought everything upon themselves by their actions or behaviors UNDERSTANDING ROLE OF POVERTY

16. ATTEND ONLY TO FAMILY: * Expecting parent or guardian and family to be involved in all decisions ATTEND ONLY TO YOUTH: * Only working with youth to determine their needs/preferences UNDERSTANDING ROLE OF FAMILY

17. TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH YOUNG ADULTSIn General: • Treat me with respect, just as you would expect to be treated. • Listen to what I am saying, don’t just hear what I am saying. • Talk to me openly and honestly, don’t use a lot of jargon. • Provide encouragement so I may develop my skills and abilities. • Trust and believe me. • Talk to me about any problems, don’t just give up on me. • Give me the benefit of the doubt.

18. TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH YOUNG ADULTSOn Disability: • Look at what I can do and not just at what I can’t do (look at my abilities, not my disabilities). • Judge me by who I am on the inside, and not on the outside (don’t label me, get to know me). • Don’t exclude me. I am a person, and I have feelings.

19. TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH YOUNG ADULTSOn Diversity: • Keep an open mind. • Understand that I may process information from a different perspective. • Family is very important, any issues affecting my family members affect me as well.