Partnering With Refugees With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

Of the 51 million people currently displaced by conflicts around the world, commonly known as refugees, about 7.7 million have disabilities of some kind. Many have entered the United States. Refugees can be defined as individuals and families who have involuntarily left their countries to escape war, violence, or persecution. They come from numerous countries, including Cambodia, Vietnam, Bhutan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. It is estimated that by 2050, 54% of all Americans will be non-White and that a significant percentage within this demographic shift will be refugees.

Given these anticipated changes, and the barriers that currently prevent refugees with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families from accessing resources and life opportunities in the United States, more research is needed before service access, ...