Developing Cross-Cultural Competence

The purpose of this article is to assist teachers in understanding the unique needs of families of children with significant developmental delays who are from a diverse cultural background and/or are recent immigrants to the United States. This article provides the reader with an understanding of various cultural interpretations of severe disability conditions and of the role of enculturation in determining family expectations and participation within the special education system. We present research-based techniques and practical ideas designed to facilitate increased competence with families in which English is not the first language.