Promoting Disabilities as a Cultural Competence Part II.

Below I copied and pasted a Mass Health Provider (I did not put the actual name down) for Mental Health Services in Massachusetts on their policy for Cultural Competence:

What is Cultural Competence?

Cultural competence is the ability to work effectively with people from different ethnic,
cultural, political, economic, and religious backgrounds. This Mass Health Provider for mental health is committed to cultural competency and aims to improve the
access and quality of care received by our diverse group of Members.

This Mass Health Provider trains staff and providers so they are able to provide services with sensitivity, understanding, and respect for the Member's culture.

This Mass Health Provider is committed to a culturally competent program and aims to
establish services that reflect:
• Staff knowledgeable in the primary languages and cultural backgrounds represented
by Members;
• Sensitivity of staff members toward the cultural differences of Members;
• Programs that respect and reflect community values and are created by the
participation of community groups; and
• Involvement of Members in decision-making of policies and procedures.

Comments:

The above does not address Disability Sensitivity as a cultural competence. Why not? How would the proposal to use "unique physical characteristics" as suggested as a possible use for all individuals with these characteristics fit in as a cultural competence?

Please comment.

Thank you,

Robbin Miller, LMHC
Facilitator