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Korean American Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities Reveal Their Experiences Communicating with European American Rehabilitation Counsellors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2012

Sungho Park  and
Martin Brodwin
Sungho Park*
Affiliation:
Division of Special Education and Counseling, California State University, Los Angeles, USA
Martin Brodwin
Affiliation:
Division of Special Education and Counseling, California State University, Los Angeles, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Sungho Park, PhD, Division of Special Education and Counseling, King Hall C1072E, California State University, Los Angeles CA 90032, USA. E-mail: spark6@calstatela.edu
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Abstract

This study explored the consumer-reported communication patterns between rehabilitation professionals and ethnically diverse clients who are parents of children with developmental disabilities. Informants were Korean American mothers (n = 10) of children with developmental disabilities (n = 10) who were receiving services from a community rehabilitation agency. Interview data were collected and thematically analysed. The findings suggest that Korean American mothers were not likely to openly discuss possible options for their children with their rehabilitation counsellor. About 60% of participants stated that they worked with at least one counsellor whose communication they felt was ineffective. The findings of this study are congruent with the previous research findings that Koreans emphasize e harmonious relationships. Multicultural competences are important for counsellors with culturally and linguistically diverse clients.

Keywords

Koreanclientscommunicationculturerehabilitationcounselling
Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , July 2012 , pp. 50 - 59
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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