Improving Cultural Competence

Published: 03 Mar 2023 Tagged: Cultural AwarenessCultural CompetenceCultural CompetencyCultural HumilityCultural Responsivenessdiscriminationignorance

When performing speech-language pathology, many speech-language pathology therapists could feel uncertain and occasionally perplexed. They might work in places with a diverse population of kids, representing many different racial groups, linguistic groups, and cultural groups. In light of this, even the most seasoned SLPs may wonder to themselves, "Should I treat everything when treating a child who is bilingual, when I don't know the rules of their original language?" or "Was it my fault or the parent's when they didn't finish home practise?"

A dynamic and complex process, developing cultural competence calls for continuing self-evaluation, ongoing cultural education, openness to other people's values and beliefs, as well as a readiness to communicate one's own values and views. It takes time for this process to develop. Understanding one's own culture is the first step in the process, which is followed by reciprocal relationships with people from other cultures and one's own lifetime learning.

Three individual initiatives can be conducted in order to improve cultural competence:

• Constantly seek out first-hand accounts from friends or co-workers about what it's like to be an African, Latino, Asian, or Polynesian, as well as material from memoirs and documentaries, about what it's like to face discrimination because of your race, religion, or culture. How does it feel to be a target in our culture?
• Asking questions about their life and treatment will help you learn more about specific clients. What were their treatment objectives? Who participated in the at-home practise? How does it feel to live with someone who has a disability?
• Modify materials so they reflect the experiences of customers. For instance, by eliminating holidays that not everyone celebrates, including bilingualism-supporting activities, and including subject matter relevant to their everyday environments and experiences.
• Conducting constant cultural competence self-checks, such as the ones from ASHA, click here.

These steps towards cultural competence are just the beginning, but those who take them now will be better prepared to help and interact with people from a variety of backgrounds. To direct therapeutic procedures, empathy and the willingness to assist will be even more strongly encouraged. Also, there will be a notable rise in family engagement and communication between parents and their kids throughout time.