CULTURAL COMPETENCE & DISABILITY

Presented by L. Scott LissnerADA Coordinator Ohio State University

DOL National EO Training Conference

August 2, 2006

Is Cross Cultural Competence adopting every cultural perspective?

CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE

• The ability to interact and communicate effectively with individuals who do not share your ethnic background, language, or cultural referents.

• Applied to organizations, cross-cultural competence refers to the organization’s ability to be responsive to the unique cultural, ethnic, or linguistic characteristics of its constituency or clientele.

Definitions Of Disability

• Medical – Functional limitations - cure

• Social – Imposed by environment & norms

• Cultural – rooted in language & Belief

Definitions Of Disability• 67 statutory definitions - 14 functional

• ADA/504 – Mental or physical condintion that results in a substantial limitation to one or more major life activities.– Record of & treated as

Demographics are changing as the nation becomes more

diverse

PWDin millions

Deviation % From N. Pop

Latino 6.5 +2.3

Asian 1.6 -.01

Native American

0.5 +0.04

Blacks 7.4 +2.3

Whites 33.0 -1

From Diversity Inc. October 2005 p. 66

18.3% of Americans have a disability

Create A Culture Of Inclusion

Plan Ahead

Consult Local Communities

Allocate Necessary Resources