Exploring Clinicians' Suggestions for Addressing Discrimination Towards Children and Youth With Disabilities With Multiple Minoritized Identities

Background

Clinicians can help address the discrimination that children and youth with disabilities often encounter. However, they commonly report lacking training and experience in addressing multiple forms of discrimination, such as ableism and racism. A lack of knowledge could lead to stigma and inequities within healthcare. This study explores clinicians' suggestions for addressing multiple forms of discrimination among children and youth with disabilities.

Methods

This qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 15 paediatric rehabilitation clinicians and community service providers working with disabled youth who have multiple minoritized identities. We applied an inductive thematic analysis to the interview transcripts.

Results

Our findings highlighted the following four themes: (1) disability awareness and anti-ableism training and education; (2) enhancing inclusive programming, services and policies; (3) building connections to supports and resources; and (4) advocacy and incorporating lived experience perspectives.

Conclusion

The results underscore the need for clinicians to engage in more training and to facilitate access to resources for multiply minoritized youth with disabilities. Dedicated funding, resources and commitment at organizational, systems and policy levels are needed to address discrimination.