Engaging ethnically diverse families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a systematic review.

Abstract

Culture is a critical component of family engagement, particularly for ethnically diverse children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their family members. Ethnically diverse families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities often encounter challenges when attempting to access special education and social services. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to explore the ways cultural demographics impact family engagement and types of professional strategies that contribute to increased engagement for ethnically diverse family members of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We conducted a systematic review of the literature using three databases and studies were published during a 22-year period. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria for our systematic review of literature. Studies included ethnically diverse family members from 11 different countries. Studies included children with intellectual and developmental delays between 1 to 21 years of age. Our findings highlight cross-cultural factors that influence family engagement. Our findings emphasize the importance of developing professionals who understand the expectations, assumptions, and values of ethnically diverse families which can enhance outcomes for family members across various contexts.