Affiliations: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL,
USA | University of Groningen, Groningen, The
Netherlands | Claremont Graduate College, Claremont, CA, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Tina Taylor-Ritzler, Center for
Capacity Building on Minorities with Disabilities Research, Department of
Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 W.
Roosevelt Road (m/c 626), Chicago, IL 60608, USA. E-mail: tritzler@uic.edu
Abstract: This article describes the cultural competence training approach
used by the Center for Capacity Building on Minorities with Disabilities
Research with agencies that serve people with disabilities from different
cultural backgrounds. The outcomes of the training on participants' individual
levels of cultural knowledge, physical environment, attitudes, values and
communication styles are presented. Data on the agencies' ability to set,
pursue and attain organizational goals related to cultural competence is also
presented. A total of 287 staff members representing 84 organizations completed
individual-level assessment instruments. In addition, 43 organizations elected
to receive follow-along support related to organizational cultural competence
goals. Results indicated that participants experienced significant
post-training improvements in cultural knowledge, physical environments, and
values, attitudes and communication styles. In addition, after 6 months of
follow-along support, participants were actively pursuing with progress or had
achieved the majority of the cultural competence goals they set during
training. The potential benefits and challenges of providing cultural
competence training to staff that serve ethnic minority individuals with
disabilities are discussed.
Keywords: Ethnic minorities with disabilities, cultural competence, training, outcomes
