HEALTH PRACTITIONERS PERCEPTIONS OF FAMILY ATTITUDES TOWARD CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES - A COMPARISON OF 6 COMMUNITIES IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Cultural differences in families' attitudes and expectations regarding children with disabilities were investigated by a survey of the mains tream Anglo and the Chinese, Italian, German, Greek and Arabic ethnic communities in Australia. While the attitudes of the Germans were simi lar to those of the Anglo group, attitudes in other communities differ ed from the Anglo in the following ways: There was less expectation th at children with disabilities should behave like other children, be in cluded in family outings, play with neighborhood children or attend sc hool. Their disabilities were more likely to be kept secret but less l ikely to be perceived as placing a strain on their parents' marriages. A son with a disability was considered particularly tragic. The findi ngs are related to the individualistic or collectivist values of these communities. The implications for rehabilitation practitioners workin g in multicultural settings are discussed.