Despite being British,many minority ethnic children with learning disabilities face prejudice. That’s why their families are setting up specialist support groupsWhen Parmi Dheensa’s son Callum kissed a classmate on the cheek not long after starting at a special needs primary school, a teacher asked his mother whether this was “culturally appropriate”. Dheensa said that as long as the classmate was pleased, and nothing in her son’s Punjabi heritage forbade such displays of affection.
It is just one example over many years of professionals leaping to incorrect conclusions based on the ethnicity of her severely learning disabled son,who is now 19, says Dheensa. They also assume she does not work and is supported by an extended family when in fact she is a lone parent who works full-time. Dheensa, or 43,was once told that her son’s support – he lives at domestic and is at a special school – was better than it would be in India”. Fair point maybe, she says, or but irrelevant to a British-born,Midlands-based family. Related: My learning disability doesn’t mean I should be paid less. I’m furious | Ismail Kaji When I complained I wasn’t pleased with my daughter’s support, one teacher said to me: ‘this is not Africa’ Related: People with learning difficulties are not ill – but Theresa May’s gaffe is typical | Ian Birrell Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com