Cultural Influences on Navajo Mothers with Disabled Children

Colonialism in Early Education, Care, and Intervention: A Knowledge Synthesis

“…Many articles spoke about the cultural conceptualization of disability and its inherent impact on the provision of EI (e.g., DiGiacomo et al, 2013). Cultural identity is overwhelmingly discussed in the literature as critical to children's development (Greenwood, de Leeuw, & Fraser, 2007;Joe, 1982;Nichols & Keltner, 2005), and the development of culturally specific EI programs is seen as a means for Indigenous self-determination (Ball, 2009;Peltier, 2011;Simmons, Novins, & Allen, 2004). Indigenousled education programs are discussed as a preventative strategy to mitigate negative outcomes associated with particular disabilities and poor social conditions (Greenwood, 2006;Niles et al, 2007;Peltier, 2017;Terbasket & Greenwood, 2007).…”

“…The pathologizing of Indigenous parents and children is found throughout the literature. Studies identify parents as being responsible for their child's disablement (Block, Balcazar, & Keys, 2001), uninvolved in their development (Hibel et al, 2008), or unequipped to handle the demands of parenting a child with a disability (Joe, 1982). While research supports the claim that Indigenous children are at risk of developmental delays and disability, the underlying assumptions about Indigenous parents as the cause is concerning.…”

Navajo and autism: the beauty of harmony

“…Farther out live clans of distant or no blood relation, which guide and teach the young and provide a foundation for ethics that further defines responsibilities within the clan and community (Frankland et al 2004). Women's elevated status, coupled with the emphasis on family cohesion, ensure that children receive the care they need from a variety of loved ones, with such nuclear and extended family relations as older sister, aunt, grandmother, and great aunt acting as additional "mothers" in their upbringing (Joe 1982). With such dense, involved family networks, the plurality of caretakers at any one time means that Navajo can absorb people with disabilities smoothly into the existing family structure, and that other family members can compensate if one or two make poor nurturers.…”

American Indian children with disabilities: The impact of culture on health and education services.

“…Today, tribal elders and tribal healers often mention that as children, they rarely saw a child with disabilities (Joe, 1980). This is understandable because, until recently, infant mortality was high, and any child born with a severe disability was not likely to survive.…”