While an important theme of the conference was addressing barriers to employment faced by Latinos, one session focused on an area that is especially crucial for service providers. In the "Intersection Between Latino Culture and Disability" workshop, panelists provided current and historical perspectives on various aspects of Latino culture. They all discussed how that plays into the way disability is perceived and treated in society, and how culture ultimately impacts the employment of Latinos with disabilities today.

Elvia Torres, Recreation Director for the Clyde Park District, shared information on ancient civilizations, discussing how disability was addressed and treated. She pointed out that there were two distinct philosophies - keep them at home, or kill them. Of the ancient civilizations, she found that only the Mayans accepted people with disabilities into their society. She pointed out that disabilities were often seen as punishment from God, an attitude that can still be found in some religious institutions in modern times. These beliefs can seriously impact the integration and acceptance of people with disabilities into the community. Torres then talked about how Mexico in particular has dealt with the question of disability in the last century, going from a long period of indifference until the early 1980s when the country began to develop laws regarding the treatment of people with disabilities. The latter half of the 1980s was a period of awareness and acceptance, and today employment opportunity laws are being implemented.

Leonor Coello of Rehabilitation International shared some statistics on Latinos in the United States (US). For example, in the 2000 Census, there were 32.8 million Latinos in the US, or about 12.3% of the population. It is estimated that by 2050, Latinos will make up 25% of the nation's working population, the most significant increase of any racial or ethnic group expected during that same time frame. A little more than one-fifth of Latinos in the country experience disability (21% as compared to the overall national disability estimate of 19% of the population). Coello said the primary reasons that Latinos experience higher rates of disability are poverty, work injury and delay in treatment.

Fabricio Balcazar, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago, spoke from personal and professional experience, as he is both an immigrant and the parent of a child with a disability. Personal relationships, he said, are critical in the Latino culture. He pointed out that often Latinos expect to have some personal conversation before getting down to business, even with their doctors. "Hey, how was your weekend?" "How's the golf game?" and that sort of interaction is vitally important in order to gain trust and build a lasting relationship. Lack of this personal relationship development can seriously hinder a service provider's ability to work effectively with the Latino population.

While language differences present a barrier, Balcazar pointed out that the jargon agencies use can present an even bigger obstacle. Acronyms make no sense to people whose first language is other than English. Service providers should remember to take the time to explain the words behind the acronyms.

Most immigrants to the US, Balcazar pointed out, come for the promise of a better financial future. This often leads, however, to working multiple jobs to save for the family here and to send some to the family back "home." As a result, often Latino parents may have precious little time available for appointments at school with the children, at a vocational rehabilitation agency, or even to see the doctor.

Unfamiliarity with the programs and services available to them can hinder Latinos from accessing programs and services. Since the Latino culture doesn't embrace the concept of 'entitlement' but rather the idea that you must pay for what you receive, pursuing free and government-funded programs often doesn't occur to the typical Latino family. Thus, it is up to the service providers to do effective outreach to explain the programs and services, and the rights consumers have to those services. Offering flyers and brochures in Spanish, as well as website information in Spanish, can aid in outreach efforts.

Service providers and other professionals may not understand Latino culture, or may hold some stereotypes and biases about Latinos. He urged professionals to instead recognize that strong family relationships and religious faith are high on the priority list for Latinos, and that understanding could lead to more effective service provision for Latino clients with disabilities and their families.

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