Service needs and service gaps among refugees with disabilities resettled in the United States

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the adequacy of existing service systems in addressing the needs of refugees with disabilities resettled in the USA. Methods: A cross-disability group of eight Cambodian and seven Somali refugees were purposively selected to participate in a 2-year qualitative study in the Midwestern USA. Ten disability/refugee service providers and key experts on refugee resettlement were also recruited to participate. Data sources included in-depth interviews, focus groups, participant observations and social network surveys with disabled refugees. Participant observations and semi-structured interviews were also conducted with service providers and key experts. Data were analyzed using coding procedures based on a grounded theory approach. Results: Disabled refugee participants experienced several unmet disability-related needs and limited access to resettlement resources on account of their disability. These findings were associated with refugee service providers having limited awareness of disability rights and resources and a narrow biomedical perspective of disability. Additionally there was a disconnection between refugee and disability service systems resulting from resource limitations within agencies, mistrust between the different service entities, and a lack of cross-cultural nuance among disability service organizations. These findings contribute important insights to the literature on disability disparities. Conclusions: Disabled refugees resettled in the USA have many unmet needs associated with gaps in-service delivery stemming from disconnections between refugee and disability service systems.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• As a result of large-scale immigration, the USA and other developed societies are becoming increasingly diverse; resettled refugees represent one source of diversity.

• Service delivery systems need to evolve in order to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse client base.

• In a qualitative study involving 15 refugee participants, this study shows that disabled refugees resettled in the USA experience unmet needs as a result of gaps in-service delivery.

• There is a need for dialogue, networking and resource-sharing between refugee and disability service organizations.

Keywords::

• Cross-cultural services
• disparities
• refugees
• USA

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the input of members of the first author’s dissertation committee, especially Dr. Joy Hammel. We also want to thank all the participants, translators, cultural guides and other contacts in the field that made this study possible.

Declaration of interest: This research was completed in partial fulfillment of a doctoral degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago and was partly supported by a research award from the University’s Graduate College. At the time of writing, the first author was supported by a research fellowship through the Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (grant # H133P080006).

Notes

CILs are non-residential organizations run by and for persons with disabilities and are funded through government (state and federal) and private funds. Typically, CILs provide services and advocacy directed at individuals and local communities to promote the leadership, independence, productivity, and community integration of people with disabilities. Core services provided by CILs include information and referral, peer support, individual and collective advocacy, and disability awareness.