Developing Cultural Self-Awareness: The First Step in Values Clarification for Early Interventionists
- 1 October 1992
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Topics in Early Childhood Special Education
- Vol. 12 (3), 333-350
- https://doi.org/10.1177/027112149201200306
Abstract
This article presents a discussion of the need for early interventionists to develop awareness of certain cultural assumptions underlying their practice. A wide range of literature on cultural differences is used to identify five areas of potential dissonance between professionals and families from culturally diverse backgrounds: interpretations of the meaning of disability; concepts of family structure and identity; goals of education; parent-child interaction, and communication style. It is argued that awareness of one's own cultural beliefs in these areas is an essential first step in developing effective collaboration with culturally different families.Keywords
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