Asian Americans with Disabilities: Influence of the Disability Rights Movement on Culturally Competent Social Work Practice

This article discusses the implications for culturally relevant social work practice with Asian Americans with disabilities based on the goals and philosophy of the disability rights movement. Standards of practice within the social work profession, especially in the health care and rehabilitation settings, have included changes in conceptual framework and practice roles in response to the disability rights movement. Using a case study as an example, the article focuses on the cultural values of Asian Americans with disabilities to identify obstacles to incorporating mutually shared premises into social work practice. Some of the concepts of the disability rights movement need to be redefined in a culturally competent way so that social workers can respond appropriately to the needs of Asian Americans with disabilities. The implications are that social work practice must integrate and apply cultural values with support of the full functioning of people with disabilities

Free Inside: A Program to Help Inmates Cope with Life in Prison at Maui Community Correctional Center

This article describes the quantitative results of a study conducted at Maui Community Correctional Center in Hawaii. The program, Free Inside, was evaluated to determine its effectiveness as a rehabilitative tool for inmates. Each of the participants engaged in twelve-week cycles of twice weekly, hour-long classes in yoga, meditation, and chi gung practice. The findings reveal an association between inmate participation and increased awareness, self-esteem, sense of hope, and compassion. The authors recommend that similar programming become a part of the inmate experience in an effort to help rehabilitate and better prepare inmates for re-entry

Attitudes Toward Breast Cancer Genetic Testing in Five Special Population Groups

Purpose: This study examined interest in and attitudes toward genetic testing in 5 different population groups. Methods: The survey included African American, Asian American, Latina, Native American, and Appalachian women with varying familial histories of breast cancer. A total of 49 women were interviewed in person. Descriptive and nonparametric statistical techniques were used to assess ethnic group differences. Results: Overall, interest in testing was high. All groups endorsed more benefits than risks. There were group differences regarding endorsement of specific benefits and risks: testing to “follow doctor recommendations” (p=0.017), “concern for effects on family” (p=0.044), “distrust of modern medicine” (p=0.036), “cost” (p=0.025), and “concerns about communication of results to others” (p=0.032). There was a significant inverse relationship between interest and genetic testing cost (p Conclusion: Cost may be an important barrier to obtaining genetic testing services, and participants would benefit by genetic counseling that incorporates the unique cultural values and beliefs of each group to create an individualized, culturally competent program. Further research about attitudes toward genetic testing is needed among Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Appalachians for whom data are severely lacking. Future study of the different Latina perceptions toward genetic testing are encouraged