Arab Americans With Disabilities and Their Families: A Culturally Appropriate Approach for Counselors

Abstract

The authors present a brief introduction to Americans of Arab descent and a brief overview of Arab culture. Then, culturally appropriate counseling considerations related to family, attitudes toward disability, religion, communication, acculturation, help-seeking behaviors, and stereotypes are highlighted. In the last section, the authors provide conclusions and recommendations for culturally appropriate considerations in working with Arab Americans with disabilities and their families.Los autores presentan una breve introducción sobre los americanos de origen árabe y un breve resumen de la cultura árabe. Después, se destacan consideraciones para la consejería culturalmente apropiada relacionadas con la familia, actitudes sobre discapacidad, religión, comunicación, aculturación, comportamientos de búsqueda de ayuda, y estereotipos. En la última sección, los autores proporcionan conclusiones y recomendaciones para consideraciones culturalmente apropiadas a la hora de trabajar con americanos de origen árabe con discapacidades y sus familias.

Struggling and Overcoming Daily Life Barriers Among Children With Congenital Heart Disease and Their Parents in the West Bank, Palestine

“…When one family member experiences stigma, the whole family is affected. In the Arab Muslim culture, chronic diseases continue to be viewed as a matter of shame and that the individual situation reflects on the entire family (Al Khateeb, Al Hadidi, & Al Khatib, 2014; Hammad, Kysia, Rabah, Hassoun, & Connelly, 1999). In the present study, families wished to hide their children’s illness from disclosure, because they feared that people would view the condition as a sign of a hereditary defect.…”

“…Therefore, when one family member experiences stigma, the whole family is assumed to be affected. In the Arab-Muslim culture, chronic diseases continue to be viewed as a matter of shame, with the individual situation reflecting on the entire family (Al Khateeb, Al Hadidi, & Al Khatib, 2014;Hammad, Kysia, Rabah, Hassoun, & Connelly, 1999). Therefore, the families of children with chronic illness interviewed in Study I and II preferred to hide the child's illness in order to be socially accepted and to avoid stigma.…”

Competent Counseling for Middle Eastern American Clients: Implications for Trainees

“…In their guidelines for working with Arab Americans with disabilities and their families, Al Khateeb, Hadidi, and Al Khatib (2014) outlined culturally appropriate counseling considerations when working with this population, such as family considerations, help-seeking behaviors, and stereotypes. For the purpose of this study, multicultural competence has been defined in accordance to Sue and Sue's (2008) theory of multicultural competence.…”

Addressing the Unique Needs of Arab American Children with Disabilities

“…In a recent article, Al Khateeb et al (2014) addressed culturally appropriate counseling practices with the Arab American persons with disabilities and their families. After providing a brief overview of Arab culture, culturallyappropriate counseling considerations related to family, attitudes toward disability, religion, communication, acculturation, help-seeking behaviors, and stereotypes were presented.…”

“…These guidelines are based on published literature pertaining to Arab American students and their families. In particular, these guidelines are taken from Al Khateeb et al (2014), Erickson and Al-Timimi (2004), Donovan (2013), Goforth (2009), Haboush (2007, Kuaider (2005), Nassar-McMillan and Hakim-Larson (2003), Nobles and Sciarra (2000). As with all guidelines, service providers must use professional judgment in applying guidelines with each child and family individually.…”