The Rehabilitation Needs of American Indians with Disabilities in an Urban Setting

Abstract

The results of this study based on data collected Denver, Colorado through 100 face-to-face interviews with American who have disabilities. On average, Indian people surveyed had lived Denver area for 18 years, reported 2.8 disabling each, and 46.5 years of age. Sixty-seven percent of sample Sioux; 55% female. A wide range of disabling reported, including arthritis (37%), diabetes (33%), substance abuse (24%), visual impairment (21%), heart problems (16%), orthopedic disorders (14%), and emotional disorders (12%). In terms of functional limitations, 64% reported having problems with walking, 62% with lifting, and 50% with working on a job. A primary concern identified by survey was lack of outreach services provided by social agencies. During 1950s and early 1960s, efforts made to assimilate Indian people into majority society through relocation of American to cities for jobs or job training (see, e.g., Fixico, 1986; Higgins, 1982). Upon arrival city, the newcomer received a check to be spent under supervision of relocation officer. Next, officer usually accompanied new urbanite to a nearby store to purchase toiletries, cookware, groceries, bedding, clothes, and an alarm clock to insure punctual arrival at (Fixico, 1986, p. 136). However, many failed to adjust to urban life, perhaps, part, because they were often resettled by BIA where they had little contact with other Indians (Johnson, Joe, Locust, Miller, & Frank, 1987, p.9). In addition, work which American able to obtain was not always permanent. The reality for many was placement in seasonal railroad and agricultural work, lowest paying and least secure type of employment (Fixico, 1986, p. 138); not surprisingly, the end result of relocation is that over one-half of today's Indian now resides urban areas (p. 183). Unfortunately, in many cases, urban have traded rural poverty on reservations for urban slums (Fixico, 1986, p. 156). According to Metcalf (1982), 25 years of relocation ... has succeeded increasing substantially probability that young Indian families will live at least part of their lives urban poverty and that Indian women will be raising their children city slums (pp. 74-75). In summarizing research conducted by faculty and staff of American Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (AIRRTC), O'Connell (1987) reported that rate at which State-Federal rehabilitation system provided rehabilitation services to American with disabilities was substantially lower than that for U.S. as a whole. Specifically, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) data showed that American who are disabled appeared to be underrepresented State-Federal system . . . area of sensory disorders (conditions of eye and ear), orthopedic impairments due to accidents, asthma and allergies, diabetes, speech conditions, and skin conditions (O'Connell, 1987, p. 8). Further, when investigating use of state agency rehabilitative services by adult Native Americans, Morgan and O'Connell (1987) found that client output after successful rehabilitation closures for Native Americans did not differ from that of general population. However, rate of successful closure among Native American clients was substantially below that of general population (p. 143). In terms of difficulties accessing services, it may be that many Indian people with disabilities, even urban areas, are simply unaware of service agencies which exist. Regarding urban American with disabilities, White (1987) found that state vocational rehabilitation agency administrators did not perceive language differences to be a barrier to service delivery as English is spoken by most urban Indians (p. …

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