African American families, religion, and disability: a conceptual framework

In recent years, there has been considerable discussion of the impact of factors such as religion and ethnicity on the adjustment of families who have a child with disabilities. The role of religion is particularly relevant for African American families because of its historic influence on basic social and cultural values of this ethnic group. In this paper we explored issues of religion, disability, and ethnicity, with emphasis on how these factors relate to adjustment for families, particularly African American families. Findings gathered from diverse literature sources are reflected in a proposed framework to guide future research and policy development.