Exploring the experiences of ableism among Asian children and youth with disabilities and their families: a systematic review of qualitative studies

Abstract

Purpose

Asian children and youth with disabilities often experience multiple barriers, stigmas and discrimination within and outside their families; yet less is understood about their lived experiences. This systematic review explored the experiences of ableism among Asian children and youth with disabilities and their families.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of qualitative studies and a qualitative meta-synthesis. We searched six databases including Ovid Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, Healthstar, Web of Science, and Scopus.

Results

Forty-two articles met our inclusion criteria involving 17 countries and regions over a 22-year period. The findings were synthesized into four themes: (1) individual- and family-level ableism (i.e., stigma, fears, concerns, stress and anxieties, physical abuse, bullying, reduced engagement in community activities); (2) institutional-level ableism (i.e., barriers to accessing and navigating supports, ableist attitudes among service providers, unavailable services); (3) societal-level ableism (i.e., cultural and religious stigma, social rejection, discrimination, environmental and policy barriers); and (4) coping strategies (i.e., self-care activities, supports from family, friends and people with similar conditions, religious beliefs).

Conclusions

Our results highlight the ableist experiences that Asian children and youth with disabilities and their caregivers often encounter and the strong need for further supports to address ableism using culturally responsive strategies.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Asian children and youth with disabilities encounter multiple forms of ableism at the individual, family and institutional levels.

• It is important for healthcare providers to customize resources that are culturally appropriate and aligned with the cultural and language backgrounds of the clients they serve.

• Clinicians and service providers should engage in culturally sensitive training and education to understand the barriers faced by the clients they serve.

• Clinicians and service providers should continue to advocate for marginalized and equity-deserving groups.

Keywords:

• Ableism
• Asian
• children
• discrimination
• diversity
• youth

Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land. The authors thank the TRAIL lab staff for their support in this project.

Author contributions

Conception and study design: SL; Article screening: SL, YL, SH; Data extraction: YL; Verification: SR, KF, SH; Drafting manuscript: YL, SL, SH, KF; All authors reviewed critically and provided feedback and approved the final version. SL was the senior author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided, in part by a Social Science and Humanities Research Council grant with matched funding from the Kimel Family Fund through Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital awarded to S. Lindsay.