knr 273: multicultural issues sylvester, voelkl, & ellis, 2001
TRANSCRIPT
KNR 273:Multicultural Issues
Sylvester, Voelkl, & Ellis, 2001
age Race & ethnicit
y
Sex/
gender
sexual orientatio
n
mental & physical abilities & qualities
Parenta
l
Status *Incom
e *W
ork
Exp
erie
nce
*
* Military
Experience
Educ
atio
n *
Relig
ion *
* Geography
Dimensions of Diversity
Cultural Diversity
Differences in race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual identity or orientation, socioeconomic status, physical ability, language, beliefs, values, behavior patterns or customs among various groups within a community, organization or nation
ATRA Statement on DiversityApproved March, 2006
The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) has an ongoing commitment to advancing diversity within the field of therapeutic recreation. We acknowledge that diversity includes any aspect of an individual that makes him or her unique. Our association values and actively promotes diverse and inclusive participation by its leaders, members, and affiliates.
ATRA Statement on DiversityApproved March, 2006
Further, the association works to educate its membership about diversity issues, and to foster an environment that acknowledges the contributions of all its members. We value the role that diversity plays in every aspect of service delivery, recognizing that diversity is vital to all elements of recreational therapy practice and education.
Global Village – 100 People
61 Asians,13 Africans, 12 Europeans, 9 Latin American, & 5 from the USA and Canada
50 female & 50 male 75 nonwhite & 25 white 67 would be non-Christian 80 would live in substandard housing 16 would be unable to read or write 50 would be malnourished & 1 dying of
starvations
Global Village – 100 People
33 would be without access to safe water 39 would lack access to improved sanitation 8 would have access to the Internet 1 would have a college education 5 would control 32% of entire world’s wealth
& all 5 would be US citizens 20 would live on less than US $1/day
ACTIVITY
Culture
A group that shares a way of life or identifies with one another based on common beliefs, values, customs, backgrounds, etc.
Characteristics Manners Ceremonies Language Arts Others?
Cultural Awareness
Recognition of the nuances of one’s own and others’ cultures
Cultural Encapsulation
A practice where other cultures are ignored Getz, 2002
Encapsulated in our own culture “Cultural Cocoon” Insensitivity to other cultures Assuming our view is the only real or legitimate view
Sylvester, Voelkl, & Ellis, 2001
Cultural Competence
A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system agency, or among people and enables them to work effectively in cross-cultural situations
The integration of knowledge, awareness, & sensitivity about individuals & groups of people into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes to increase quality of life in a community
Cultural Competence
Lifelong pursuit of increasing personal awareness of other cultures
Getz, 2002
Being a professional who is capable of helping people from all cultures to meet their needs and to achieve well-being as THEY understand it
Sylvester, Voelkl, & Ellis, 2001
Wheeler’s Model (1994)
Unconsciously incompetent Do not know what they do not know Unaware of stereotypes they hold Limited knowledge of client’s cultures
Consciously incompetent Knows that they do not know Willing to improve awareness & understanding
Wheeler’s Model (1994)
Consciously competent New awareness & understanding of cultural
differences Develops & implements programs with cultural
awareness Unconsciously competent
Knows how to deliver culturally competent TR services but doesn’t think about it
Culturally Appropriate
Exhibiting sensitivity to cultural differences and similarities, and demonstrating effectiveness in translating that sensitivity to action through organizational mission statements, communication, and service to diverse cultures
Culturally Appropriate
Ethnic/background (but beyond just this)
Gender culturalization Socioeconomic /
educational status Sexual orientation Physical capacity
Age generational (cohorts)
Personality type Spirituality / religious
beliefs Regional perspectives New immigrant
socialization
What is multiculturalism?
Recognizing & respecting differences among people
Common values & goals (e.g., justice, respect)
Unity of different cultures Sylvester et al., 2001
Therapeutic Recreation & Multiculturalism
The demographics of North America changed dramatically during the 20th century. With the changes in demographics have come a much more diverse population and concomitantly, a much more diverse population of people with disabilities. Little attention has been paid to the issue of disability and cultural diversity
Bullock & Mahon, 2000, p. 140
Therapeutic Recreation & Multiculturalism
Therapeutic recreation is based on Western beliefs and values which seriously limits the field’s capacity to serve people whose primary world-view is non-Western.
Peregoy & Diser, 1997
DISCUSS SPIRIT CATCHES YOU AND YOU FALL DOWN
Therapeutic Recreation & Multiculturalism
The problem is that therapeutic recreation, which has long advocated the principle of inclusion as it pertains to persons with disabilities, has not sufficiently incorporated cultural inclusion, or multiculturalism, into its theory and practice.
Sylvester, Voelkl, & Ellis, 2001, p. 35
Therapeutic Recreation & Multiculturalism
When working in clinical practice, it is important to acknowledge that your cultural beliefs exist. Even more importantly, one must be willing to acknowledge that clients may not hold the same beliefs that you do.
Getz, 2002, p. 157
Therapeutic Recreation & Multiculturalism
Many therapeutic recreation specialists are in the “unconsciously incompetent” level with respect to recognizing and addressing cultural concerns among participants that they serve.
Havitz & Floyd, 2003, p. 34
It is “morally untenable” for specialists to be unable to serve clients because they are culturally incompetent
Sylvester, Voelkl, & Ellis, 2001, p. 73
ATRA Code of Ethics
Principle 4 Justice Recreational Therapy personnel are responsible
for ensuring that individuals are served fairly and that there is equity in the distribution of services. Individuals should receive services without regard to race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, disease/disability, social and financial status.
What should we do?
Examine own culture and world-view Increase knowledge of diverse groups Develop the ability to work with culturally
diverse people Design programs that are culturally sensitive Seek out opportunities to increase cultural
competence
Activities
Knowledge of cultural issues self evaluation What can I do to become culturally
competent? How can I make my TR services culturally
diverse? Resources Practice situations Study abroad