Ethnic Families, their Children with Disabilities and their Child Care Needs

Abstract

Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC) was funded by the Department of Human Services and Health, Children's Services branch, to research the needs of families who are from a non-English speaking background and have a child with a disability. Twenty-two families were interviewed about their awareness and need for child care; whether there were any cultural or linguistic barriers in accessing services, and ways services could be improved. Families interviewed were from the Melbourne metropolitan area and represented a number of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds. The main issues identified included a general lack of information about child care options. In particular, families had a poor knowledge of family day care and out of school hours care. Carers of school-aged children felt there was a need for out of school hours care, particularly over the holiday period. There was no relationship between parents who required a lot of assistance with the child with a disability and the amount of help received or the use of services according to a Spearman's correlation. Different child care options may need to be promoted more widely within ethnic communities. Some positive aspects of child care that need to be highlighted to the carers are the benefits to the child's social and intellectual development and as a form of respite care.