Disability as Diversity: Developing Cultural Competence reveals why
disability is a cultural experience, rather than merely a medical
status. Conceptual models of disability have evolved into a complex
biopsychosocial phenomenon that disability service providers must
understand to fully appreciate the intricacy of the lives of the people
they serve. In this volume, Andrews sets the stage with the must-know
history of disability rights and the social and cultural evolution of
disabled people in the United States. She presents important concepts
about attitudes toward disability and the impact of ableism. Andrews
illustrates that not only are negative attitudes harmful, but that
overly positive stereotypes can have an equally detrimental effect on
disabled people. The reader will learn about disability microaggressions
and how attempts to improve disability awareness can be misguided.
Andrews argues that there is a distinct disability culture, and
introduces the reader to its
characteristics and features. She explores the concept of disability
identity development, and how some people with disabilities identify
readily as disabled and embrace the disability community, while others
do not view themselves as disabled even though they meet commonly
accepted criteria for disability. Andrews delves into the intricacies
and controversies of disability language, including person-first and
identity-first language. The reader will gain enhanced knowledge and
skills to provide culturally competent care to individuals, as well as
methods to enrich cultural humility at the organizational level. Andrews
offers readers a guide to disability-related considerations for
psychological testing and assessment and the role of universal design.
Readers will learn about specific considerations for intervention with
children and adults with disabilities, including how to tailor
intervention approaches, clinician attitudes, and the use of evidence
based treatments. Researchers will
find a thorough exploration of the challenges inherent in disability
research, the importance of full consumer inclusion, and future
directions to reduce health disparities based on disability. This book
offers practical suggestions for clinicians and researchers who work
with people with disabilities in order to be culturally effective in all
aspects of assessment, intervention, and scientific inquiry.
