Overcoming the Cultural Barriers in Orientation and Mobility
Cultural and language differences often create challenges in education, particularly for blind and low vision students from multilingual families. Educators and specialists must develop culturally responsive strategies to ensure equity and accessibility for all students. In this blog post, we’ll explore ways to break down these barriers, empower families, and create more inclusive learning environments.
Why Cultural Understanding Matters in Education
For students with visual impairments, effective learning goes beyond academics—it requires building connections, trust, and understanding between educators and families. Cultural differences can influence how families view education, disabilities, and teacher collaboration. When these perspectives are not acknowledged, it may lead to misunderstandings, lack of engagement, and missed opportunities for growth.
Educators must recognize and respect the values, traditions, and challenges faced by multilingual families. By doing so, they can create an inclusive space that nurtures learning and development.
Barriers Faced by Multilingual Families
Language and Communication Challenges - Many families struggle to understand educational jargon, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and available services. Limited access to interpreters can further complicate communication.
Cultural Differences - Different cultural norms about disabilities may affect how families advocate for their children. Some may hesitate to participate due to feelings of exclusion.
Technology and Transportation Gaps - Lack of resources, such as transportation or internet access, can prevent families from engaging with schools and educators effectively.
School Engagement Practices - Schools may unknowingly use approaches that fail to account for cultural differences, leading to miscommunication and reduced participation.
Practical Strategies for Building Trust and Engagement
Dr. Conchita Hernandez de la Correta, an expert in culturally responsive teaching, emphasizes viewing families as assets rather than obstacles. Her research and work in social justice highlight actionable steps educators can take to foster meaningful collaboration:
Inform and Empower Families: Host workshops and provide translated materials to help families better understand educational systems and processes.
Create Inclusive Events: Plan culturally relevant events like "Total Queso the IEP," which was designed to teach families about IEPs in a welcoming and familiar setting. Include interpreters, childcare, and transportation options.
Build Relationships: Establish trust by connecting with families regularly. Use tools like surveys to gather feedback and demonstrate responsiveness to their needs.
Embed Equity in Policies: Advocate for funding interpreters, bilingual staff, and accessible technology in school budgets. This ensures that family engagement isn’t just an afterthought but a core part of the school’s framework.
Offer Flexible Participation: Allow families to engage in ways that work for them, whether through virtual meetings, phone calls, or in-person visits.
Lessons from Real-World Examples
The "Total Queso the IEP" event held at the Maryland School for the Blind serves as a powerful model. This event provided families with practical tools, like building IEP binders, while also incorporating cultural relevance through food and activities. Families left feeling more prepared and supported, highlighting the importance of combining education with cultural understanding.
Key takeaways include:
Collaboration among educators, families, and community organizations leads to better outcomes.
Minimizing costs, offering free childcare, and ensuring transportation can improve attendance.
Engaging siblings and extended family members acknowledges their vital role in supporting blind and low vision students.
Final Thoughts
Breaking cultural barriers in education isn’t just about addressing language differences—it’s about creating a welcoming environment where all families feel valued and heard. By implementing culturally responsive strategies, educators and orientation and mobility specialists can ensure that blind and low vision students receive the support they need to thrive.
topics: cultural barriers, multilingual families, orientation and mobility, IEP, teaching strategies, inclusive education, special education, students with visual impairment, visually impaired, low vision, blind, mobility, teacher tips, cultural differences, school engagement, language differences