The gap between theory and practice: using cultural brokering to serve culturally diverse families of children with disabilities

Abstract

Cultural brokering is one promising approach to support culturally diverse families and their children with disabilities who have divergent identities and needs. This qualitative case study examined the application of a cultural brokering model in a statewide family support program in the United States serving culturally diverse families of children with disabilities. Interviews with cultural brokers and key informants in the disability field were utilized to identify the critical roles of cultural brokers, challenges in cultural brokering and strategies for being effective cultural brokers. Gaps between theory and practice were uncovered in the understanding of cultural brokering as well as the design of a cultural broker program. Implications for community human service providers are discussed to help them effectively implement cultural brokering in community services.

Keywords:

• Cultural brokering
• culturally diverse families
• intersectionality
• disabilities
• family support

Disclosure statement

The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article, and declared no potential conflicts of interest for this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Health and Human Resources [Diversity Fellowship Grant, Number: 90DDTI0016].