Intersectionality and Its Relevance in the Context of Aboriginal People with Brain Injury in Australia

Abstract

In this article, we explore the benefits of recognizing the impact of intersectionality on access to, and provision of, brain injury care in a First Nations context. While disadvantage and discrimination are often associated with the intersection of culture, gender, disability, and socioeconomic disadvantage, it is only when these factors are explored together that clinicians can really understand what people need to recover and thrive following acquired brain injury. In this article, we challenge speech-language pathologists to examine their own practices, to look beyond Western models of health and constraints of many current institutional models of care and ways of framing research, to acknowledge historical and ongoing colonizing influences, and to engage with community-led solutions. We provide a model of Aboriginal-led care, where intersection of discrimination and marginalization is minimized and the multiple components of the individual, carers/communication partners, and the environment become empowering factors instead.

Intersectionality in Aphasia Services for Ethnosocially Diverse Adult Populations

“…Greenwald et al (2024) follow with a focus on the climate change vulnerability of PWAs by describing the intersectionality of climate change and preexisting inequities in social determinants of health. In the last three articles, Armstrong et al (2024) discuss the importance of a community-led intersectional intervention model that has been critical to minimize the impact of marginalization and discrimination on services for adults from Australian First Nations with neurogenic cognitive-communicative disorders. Next, Centeno (2024) describes intersectional LPAA-based strategies, grounded in personal storytelling, to collect the input that can inform culturally responsive intervention in ethnosocially diverse aphasia caseloads in the United States.…”

Speaking Up and Being Heard: The Importance of Functional Communication and Discourse Principles in Aphasia Intervention

“…The cross-cultural relevance of group therapy for individuals with brain damage, including those with aphasia, has recently been described in an Aboriginal context in Australia (Armstrong et al, 2024). "Yarning circles" based in metropolitan and rural areas for Aboriginal people with brain injury, conducted by Aboriginal facilitators in Aboriginal community settings, have been well-attended and have received positive feedback from participants and their families/carers.…”

“…Bessarab and Ng'andu refer to Nyoongah author Terszack's definition to further elaborate on the cultural significance of yarning-"a process of making meaning, communicating and passing on history and knowledge … a special way of relating and connecting with the Nyoongah culture" (2008, p. 90). In the yarning circles reported on by Armstrong et al (2024), yarning about a range of topics was central to all groups. However, the authors noted that a safe cultural space is essential for truly reciprocal yarning and for group participants to be able to actively engage and explore their new identities after brain damage.…”