Abstract

Residing in a post 9/11 society, are rehabilitation professionals truly addressing the rehabilitation needs and concerns of those individuals of Arab or South Asian descent? What are some of the issues important to these individuals? How can rehabilitation professionals adequately understand and help to support individuals belonging to these cultural groups in vocational outcomes and goals? This presentation will give a brief introduction of these groups from a historical perspective. Issues regarding religion, culture, gender differences, and social ideals in relation to disability will be investigated. The present situation(s) of the Arab-American and South Asian-American will be addressed. The role of rehabilitation with respect to these groups will also be discussed. The reader will be able to gain a better understanding of these particular groups and issues surrounding successful rehabilitation outcomes.