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Meeting the Challenge: Refugees with Disabilities Program
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Among the tens of thousands of refugees who resettle in the U.S. each year, many have lived in poorer regions of the world where there is a high rate of disabilities, and many have fled situations where armed conflict and related injuries are common. Many of the refugees resettled in the U.S. have one or more disabilities. In the U.S. communities where refugees resettle, local organizations serving the disabled may not be aware of refugees’ presence or of their specialized needs. Local resettlement agencies that serve refugees often lack the capacity to assist disabled refugees in understanding their rights and in accessing support services available for disabled individuals in the United States. USCRI builds resettlement communities’ capacity to better serve disabled refugees by researching, producing and disseminating information and materials and by providing technical assistance to help refugee service providers enhance orientation and case management services for disabled refugees.
USCRI’s Participation:
USCRI initiated Meeting the Challenge: Disabled Refugee Program in October 2006 with funding provided by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Through the program, USCRI aims to build a bridge between mainstream U.S. disability service providers and advocates and the refugee resettlement community in order to increase capacity at the local level to best serve refugees with disabilities. To this end, USCRI works with ORR, partner agencies, service providers, policy makers, and communities to strengthen national, regional, and local collaboration to ensure that refugees with disabilities have the information and access to services that they need in order to achieve their highest level of functioning and successful integration into their U.S. communities.
Partner Agencies’ Participation:
Partner agencies and other community-based organizations provide assistance to refugees with disabilities, and their families, as they settle in their new community. Services to refugees include community orientation, case management, and information and referral. Through their efforts, clients are able to access health care, secure equipment necessary to increase their functioning (e.g. hearing aids, wheel chairs, and other devices), and locate appropriate services. USCRI collaborates with partner agencies and community-based organizations to increase awareness of and access to services for refugees and immigrants. Partner agencies also work to increase awareness and knowledge of the needs of refugees within the local community by engaging the media, health-care providers, local leaders, educators, volunteers, and employers.
Communities’ Participation:
Integrating into a new community may pose unique challenges for refugees whose disability limits them from fully participating in their community. To ease this transition, community members offer support by orientating refugees to the community, teaching them English, and assisting with transportation to appointments. Teachers and school personnel educate refugee children with disabilities and provide services to improve their functioning. Local medical facilities provide health care and treatment to mitigate the effects of a refugee’s disability. Social service providers, employment counselors, and other care providers play important roles in providing refugees with disabilities opportunities to fully participate in their community and experience a better quality of life.
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Clients’ Participation:
Many refugees with disabilities have had little to no access to education, medical care, or rehabilitation prior to their arrival in the United States. Once they arrive in the U.S., refugees with disabilities can access treatment and care for their disability, receive education and training, and secure employment. They can become active participants in their new communities. There are numerous individual success stories of refugees with disabilities who have become self-sufficient after receiving assistance and accessing services. USCRI clients also participate by educating themselves about their rights and responsibilities living in America. When given the opportunity, refugees with disabilities can become exceptional employees, students, and active members of their new U.S. community.
For more information contact:
Koula Papanicolas at kpapanicolas@uscridc.org
Tel: 703-310-1130