South Asian Indian cultural orientations toward mental retardation

The findings of a portion of a 2-year ethnographic study involving North Indian Hindu immigrants living in the mid-Western United States is discussed. These findings illuminate the ways in which participants think and talk about mental retardation, how this linguistic information was obtained, and the cultural context within which participants have come to hold their beliefs. Implications for special education practice are explored as are some strategies that could be helpful when working with Indian families. Suggestions for future research are included.