Underrepresented and Overlooked: A Review of Asian American Children with Disabilities

Thirty years after the Council for Exceptional Children's first symposium on Asian American youth with disabilities, this study synthesizes research on the key experiences of this population and their families. Results show that most studies focused on the views of Asian American parents, especially their perceptions of and attitudes toward disabilities, experiences in raising a child with a disability, and interactions with service providers and school officials. Although less frequent, studies also examined the perspectives of service providers and students themselves. An important finding is the diversity in experiences among Asian American parents due to religion, acculturation, education, and income level. The review has implications for research, practice, and policy related to serving Asian American children with disabilities.