Refugee Families With Children With Disabilities: Exploring Their Social Network and Support Needs. A Good Practice Example

Edvina Bešić, Lea Hochgatterer

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

This study focuses on caregivers from refugee backgrounds who have children with disabilities. By concentrating on the support role of social networks, it explores how caregivers navigated the Austrian social support system. Semi-structured interviews with three caregivers and five service providers (including parents' guides: Elternlotsinnen) for migrant families with children with disabilities were conducted. The findings reveal not only particular challenges—for example, displaced children with disabilities not receiving adequate support from social providers—but they also allude to certain good practices. Results demonstrate that one organization, that finds itself at the intersection of migration and disability, improved the knowledge about the support system for these caregivers.

Original languageEnglish
Article number61
JournalFrontiers in Education
Volume5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jun 2020
Externally publishedYes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 504021 Migration research

Keywords

  • Austria
  • disability
  • good practice example
  • intercultural interlocutors
  • intersectionality
  • refugee families
  • social network
  • social support

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