Cultural reciprocity in special education: Building bridges to cross-cultural understanding with parent

Abstract

Cultural reciprocity is an approach that goes beyond the concept of cultural competence. The first step for service providers in a multicultural environment is to acknowledge that they cannot be competent in the cultures of all the families they serve. By recognizing the cultural assumptions and biases that underlie their own practice, service providers can then be open to learning about the beliefs of family members, and can engage in an exchange of cultural views. With mutual respect established, providers can collaborate with families in establishing and pursuing realistic goals for the children they serve.