Chapter 9: Parent Advocacy Groups in Taiwan: Support for Families of Children With Disabilities

Each culture's customs and beliefs shape the worldviews and behaviors in that particular society. Lamorey (2002, p. 67) stated, “Each culture has its own explanations for why some babies are born with disabilities, how these children are to be treated, and what responsibilities and roles are expected of family members, helpers, and other members of the society.” In Taiwan, the social attitudes toward children with disabilities are indeed strongly influenced by cultural values and beliefs. For example, Confucianism, Buddhism, and collectivistic traditions all have a great impact on Taiwanese culture, including societal perspectives on disability. Based on the Confucian concept of the preservation of harmony, Taiwanese family members are typically reluctant to share unpleasant news or information that does not follow the social norm. Accordingly, Taiwanese families of children with disabilities are less apt to share their experiences and needs with persons outside of the family circle; and they typically feel they have the primary, if not sole, responsibility of taking care of their own. Influenced by Buddhism, a traditional belief held by some Taiwanese families is that a child's disability is karmic punishment from past moral violations (Chang & McConkey, 2008). This belief may, in part, serve to promote societal stigma toward disability, and consequently, many parents of children with disabilities are less willing to seek support and participate in social activities, hence further isolating themselves from society (Zhou, 2000). Parent advocacy groups have played an important role in providing families with the support they need as well as in impacting public opinion and public policy (Azzopardi, 2000; Black & Baker, 2011).