Providing services to Asian Americans with developmental disabilities and their families: mainstream service...

This survey investigated the opinions and perceptions of 44 mainstream social service providers regarding barriers to Asian Americans with developmental disabilities and their families receiving appropriate supportive services. Six main barriers were identified: (1) Language and communication difficulties; (2) Lack of knowledge concerning mainstream service delivery system; (3) Perceived cultural differences; (4) Being a "minority within a minority" in the service delivery system; (5) Individual differences within families and differences among Asian ethnic groups; and (6) Lack of resources to meet needs within the family. Implications of the interrelationships among the identified barriers were discussed.