From Caregiver to Community Leader: Asian American Parents’ Journey in Disability Activism

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Care, Motherhood, and Identity Work in AANHPI Communities

Abstract

This multiple case study examines how first-generation Chinese immigrant parents transition from private caregiving to public leadership in disability advocacy. Data included five semi-structured interviews per participant, artifacts, and field notes. Cross-case thematic analysis, guided by relational leadership theory and critical disability studies, identified three interrelated processes: confronting cultural stigma and isolation; acquiring system knowledge and peer networks; and awakening to collective action that redefined leadership as relational and community-oriented. Findings show parent leaders co-construct inclusive practices, mobilize resources across bilingual networks, and challenge ableism, racism, and linguistic marginalization. Implications include culturally responsive outreach, multilingual leadership pipelines, and formal roles for parent advisors in school and state decision-making.

Author

• Jenny Yang, St. John's University