Voices of Community-Based Program Volunteers for Korean American Individuals With Severe Disabilities

• In Event: Special and Inclusive Education Research SIG: Spotlight on Special and Inclusive Education 2

Abstract

Members of Korean American (KA) communities have displayed an increasing interest in volunteering opportunities to promote the participation of individuals with severe disabilities in social interactions and community engagement. In order to better understand the volunteer community’s experiences, this qualitative study documents the voices of KA volunteers who work with individuals with severe disabilities. Adopting a phenomenological approach, we interviewed ten KA community volunteers to explore the meaning of their experiences and perceptions of severe disability as well as the social inclusion of individuals with severe disabilities. Through the data analysis, three main themes were identified: Changing views of individuals with severe disabilities, inclusion in multifaceted communities, and identified needs of the KA community and volunteering system.

Authors

• Sunyoung Kim, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Hyejung Kim, Binghamton University - SUNY

• Veronica Youn Kang, University of Illinois at Chicago