A Scoping Review of How Support Services and New Cultural Environments Affect Refugees, Asylees, and Migrants with Disabilities

Background and Purpose:

This study highlights the overlooked challenges faced by over twelve million forcibly displaced individuals with disabilities, including migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers—collectively referred to as newcomers. Despite international recognition of the rights of people with disabilities, the unique hurdles of newcomers with disabilities in the migration context are often inadequately addressed. By focusing on the distinct yet interconnected experiences of these groups, the study aims to shed light on the barriers to humanitarian assistance they encounter, marked by discrimination, violence, and exclusion. It seeks to review existing literature to pinpoint evidence gaps and barriers to inclusion, aiming to inform policies and programs that better support the resettlement of displaced persons with disabilities. Ultimately, this comprehensive review strives to enhance understanding and support mechanisms for newcomers with disabilities, advocating for more inclusive and responsive humanitarian services worldwide.

Methods:

Following the Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, we systematically searched electronic databases, including Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE, and SocINDEX, dated between 2000 to 2023. In total, the search provided 106 results. After the removal of duplicates, 73 articles were evaluated based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. There were 20 articles that remained for data analysis.

Results:

Cultural adaptation is vital in the resettlement of displaced populations, highlighting the need for interventions that consider their distinct cultural, linguistic, and social needs. Culturally adapted interventions show more effectiveness than standard treatments, emphasizing the necessity to align with the cultural practices and perspectives of specific subgroups. Research indicates newcomers with disabilities face significant health challenges, including a heightened risk of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, at rates much higher than the general population in host countries. These findings underscore the urgent need for healthcare interventions tailored to address their unique health needs, compounded by the trauma of displacement and difficulties accessing services in new settings. Similarly, in education, significant access and attainment barriers exist for newcomers with disabilities, with educational systems in host countries often inadequately supporting their needs, leading to exclusion and further complicating their cultural adaptation and integration. This limits their participation in society and access to opportunities for progress.

Conclusions and Implications:

The review underscores the urgent need for inclusive, culturally sensitive health and education policies to support the integration of newcomers with disabilities, addressing the disparities they face. It highlights the significant gap in research on the health needs of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers with physical disabilities and stresses the importance of culturally informed qualitative research. This approach calls for shared responsibility in cultural adaptation between social work practitioners and clients, ensuring interventions are both relevant and effective.