Exploring the experiences of ableism among Asian children and youth with disabilities and their families: a systematic review of qualitative studies

PURPOSE

Asian children and youth with disabilities often experience multiple barriers, stigmas and discrimination within and outside their families; yet less is understood about their lived experiences. This systematic review explored the experiences of ableism among Asian children and youth with disabilities and their families.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of qualitative studies and a qualitative meta-synthesis. We searched six databases including Ovid Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, Healthstar, Web of Science, and Scopus.

RESULTS

Forty-two articles met our inclusion criteria involving 17 countries and regions over a 22-year period. The findings were synthesized into four themes: (1) individual- and family-level ableism (i.e., stigma, fears, concerns, stress and anxieties, physical abuse, bullying, reduced engagement in community activities); (2) institutional-level ableism (i.e., barriers to accessing and navigating supports, ableist attitudes among service providers, unavailable services); (3) societal-level ableism (i.e., cultural and religious stigma, social rejection, discrimination, environmental and policy barriers); and (4) coping strategies (i.e., self-care activities, supports from family, friends and people with similar conditions, religious beliefs).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the ableist experiences that Asian children and youth with disabilities and their caregivers often encounter and the strong need for further supports to address ableism using culturally responsive strategies.

Stress and Anxiety Among Parents of Transition-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review of Interventions and Scales

The period between adolescence to young adulthood can be stressful for parents of transition-aged children (14 to 22 years old) with autism spectrum disorder. A systematic review was undertaken to examine if existing interventions address the unique parental stressors of this phase and if the scales used to measure parental stress and anxiety are suitable for this group. Of the 9813 studies screened, only 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicated that interventions focused on mindfulness, social functioning, or multiple components, of which only two addressed the transition period and only three specifically targeted parents of this age group. Moreover, of the six scales which assessed stress or anxiety, none were designed for these parents. Findings highlight the urgent need for more suitable scales and targeted interventions.