‘To the Arabic Community Disability Is Not Normal’: Multiple Stakeholder Perceptions of the Understandings of Disability among Iraqi and Syrian People from Refugee Backgrounds

Abstract

In 2015, the Australian government committed to take an additional 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq prioritizing those considered most vulnerable including people with disability. The aim of this preliminary study was to understand, from multiple stakeholder perspectives, the experiences of settling in Australia for people with disability from Syrian and Iraqi refugee backgrounds living in Sydney. Interviews were conducted with nine family members of 11 people with disability from Iraqi and Syrian refugee backgrounds; eight Iraqi and Syrian community organization leaders; and seven community and health refugee service practitioners. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using the thematic analysis. Three themes were identified that contribute to understandings of disability based on the perceptions of the multiple stakeholders interviewed: Iraqi and Syrian perceptions of ‘disability’; beliefs about who is ‘responsible for’ the disability; and comparisons between Iraqi/Syrian and Australian views, attitudes, and approaches to disability. Understandings of disability are shaped by fluid and dynamic factors, including culture. It is essential that services are offered to people with disability and their family members using a whole-of-person, culturally informed approach to community support.

‘In the beginning it was difficult but things got easier’: Service use experiences of family members of people with disability from Iraqi and Syrian refugee backgrounds

“…Kale (2019) highlights the importance of securing housing and suggests that place-attachment reduces stress and anxiety and enhances feelings of safety, autonomy and belonging, all of which contribute towards more positive resettlement outcomes. Family participants reported mostly positive experiences, partly due to perceptions of how disability is perceived in their countries of origin compared to Australia (Dew et al, 2021). The family support group that one of the participating refugee-specific services established provided important social connections and information for families.…”

“…We acknowledge that reporting on family members' views rather than those of persons with disability directly privileges a different set of perspectives. Findings from the third group, Iraqi and Syrian community organisation leaders, are reported elsewhere (Dew et al, 2021). Participants were recruited using the research partner networks, which provided information about the study to those who met the inclusion criteria.…”

“…They demonstrate the principles of cultural safety, a concept originating from Aotearoa New Zealand that focuses on mutual respect and acknowledging identity (De & Richardson, 2008; Skellett, 2012). Unsurprisingly, these refugee health organisations, with their history of activism and civic engagement, have been responsive to the needs of the growing number of refugees with disability arriving in recent years (Dew et al, 2021).…”

“…Refugees with disability are eligible to apply for NDIS funding. However, the introduction of the NDIS has raised issues about providing adequate support for migrant and refugee families (Soldatic et al, 2015) who are largely disadvantaged by ‘a system that requires English language skills, sophisticated advocacy skills and extensive knowledge of health systems to access resources that are disability‐specific’ (Dew et al, 2021, p. 7). While in principle, the NDIS provides individual packages so that people with disability can access supports to address their reasonable and necessary needs, in practice there are several barriers for diverse individuals (Dowse & Dew, 2016) including: completing the lengthy online application; lack of culturally appropriate assessment tools; limited access to histories of diagnosis and service use; community stigma; lack of interpreters who understand disability‐specific needs; and limited knowledge of entitlements (RCoA, 2016).…”

Jahrbuch Migration und Gesellschaft 2019/2020

“…Nicht vergessen werden sollten aber die Perspektiven und Stimmen der Eltern/Erziehunsberechtigten und auch der Menschen mit Behinderungen selbst, um eine holistische und personenorientierte Form der Kommunikation und Beratung weiterzuentwickeln, die jedenfalls aber nicht ausschließlich auf Prinzipien kultureller Sensibilität basiert (Dew et al 2021). Des Weiteren muss die Verlinkung und Harmonisierung von Beratungsangeboten im Bereich Migration, Flucht und Behinderung gewährleistet werden.…”