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Focus on Native Americans

Summer 2000, 00-02

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Report on Native American Conferences

First National Conference of American Indian Women with Disabilities: Stepping Stones to Increase Employment of American Indian Women with Disabilities

Organized by The World Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation International and hosted by the Mojave Indian Tribe, February 24-March 4, 2000, Laughlin, Nevada

The Social Security Administration and other federal agencies involved with rehabilitation services to this population were cosponsors and brought together over two hundred women and men within the United States involved in the field of rehabilitation services and social security programs, and individuals receiving such services.

Programs and workshops focused on developing personal and professional awareness of local, state, and federal services and resources available to Native American women with disabilities. Another major interest area was the development of personal empowerment for these women.

Keynote speakers included Judy Heuman, U.S. Department of Education, who highlighted the progress disabled women are making in education. She supports international programs that address the unique educational needs of disabled women. Susan Daniels, Social Security Administration, reported on new work incentives, and Frederic Schroeder, Rehabilitation Services Administration, reported on reservation-based vocational services. The Native American speakers included LaDonna Fowler, American Indian Rehabilitation Rights of Warriors; Julie Clay, American Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Northern Arizona University; and Linda Carroll, Intertribal Council on Deafness.

I met with Indian Health Service nurses and vocational rehabilitation counselors. Some were aware of aspects of the NLS program. In particular, they were aware of the equipment available for use by their clients with diabetes. They were utilizing our equipment to provide their clients with the Voice of the Diabetic and related material. Publications from NLS that were very well received included:

I came away from the conference with the following:

  1. Recommendation by Native American rehabilitation counselors that agencies providing services to tribes follow culturally sensitive protocol by contacting the tribal leader first. Then he or she forwards information or materials to the appropriate person.
  2. Positive interaction between disability and rehabilitation specialists and individuals in mentoring and networking.
  3. Development of working relationships with these groups.

The conference attendees drafted recommendations to Julie Clark, the representative from the Presidential Task Force on Adults with Disabilities, to provide the following:

  1. Federal support for creation of a Native American ombudsman for each tribe to coordinate government grants and other federal programs.
  2. Creation of a Native American Technical Center to coordinate training of advocates in assistive technology and related material.

First Southeastern Regional Native American HIV/AIDS, STDs, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Conference

Organized and hosted by the Catawba Indian Nation Health Service, March 28-30, 2000, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The meeting focused on issues of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD), as well as drug and alcohol abuse among Native Americans east of the Mississippi. The emphasis was on empowerment of health care providers to educate clients and the public on these matters. The speakers were representatives from several federal, state, and community agencies that work specifically in the areas of HIV/AIDS and STD research, prevention, and peer education programs. They provided epidemiological information and statistical analysis demonstrating the degree of severity and distribution of these diseases among Native Americans. The data show a significant need for intense education and preventive services.

Members of the Indian Health Service, the main provider of health care services for American Indians on or off reservations, were in attendance. The demographics of Native Americans living in the eastern United States indicate that most do not live on federally recognized reservations. However, many are living on state-recognized reservations and others live in cities. Those living in the cities are considered "urban" or "non-affiliated."

Most of these health care providers wanted information about diabetes, blindness, and HIV/AIDS on audio cassette. Many were not familiar with the NLS program and were pleased to learn of it. Handouts included:

I came away from the conference with the following:

  1. Recommendation by community health care providers to contact Indian Health Service hospitals, centers, and clinics directly regarding services from NLS.
  2. Positive interaction and networking between governmental agency representatives and community health activists.

Recommendations

To improve outreach to disabled Native Americans, NLS should consider the following projects:

  1. Provide updated bibliographies of already available material in braille and on audio cassette on diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and alcohol abuse, listing NLS holdings and other resources.
  2. Send informational packets of NLS material to tribal leaders and health care providers in the Indian Health Service hospitals, centers, and clinics. This approach was identified as the culturally sensitive method of information transfer.
  3. Consider distribution limits in that there are approximately 573 tribal leaders and approximately 541 Indian Health Service hospitals, centers, and clinics.
  4. Investigate partnerships with such organizations as the American Dietetic Association and USDA Food and Nutrition Information Service as well as pharmaceutical companies to provide educational information in alternative formats.

Awareness

To better understand some of the barriers in serving Native Americans, we should be aware of the following:

  1. The terms "Native Americans", "American Indians" (AI), and "Alaskan Natives" (AN) are interchangeable.
  2. Tribal sovereignty supersedes federal law. Tribes are excluded from having to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as other federal legislation on tribal land.
  3. Agencies, organizations and individuals should respect tribal sovereignty and cultural diversity.
  4. In contrast to mainstream Euro-American perspectives, many Native American cultures view disability as a sign of spiritual disharmony rather than solely a physical condition.
  5. Most tribes do not currently recognize the need to fund disability issues. Their overriding interests are focused on land and water rights and achieving or protecting their individual sovereignty. These concerns deflect attention from issues of disability services.
  6. Tribal members with disabilities have better access to health care services when these services are part of the tribal structure.

Bibliography

The following publications and web sites are useful in further understanding disability issues in Native American cultures and provide resources related to these issues.

Dwyer, Kathy, comp. American Indian Disability Legislation Research. Rural Disability and Rehabilitation Research Progress Report #2. Missoula, MT: American Indian Disability Legislation Project, Rural Institute on Disabilities, University of Montana, 1999. 4p. Free. (52 Corbin Hall 59812). Web site: <http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/rtcural>.

Dwyer, Kathy, comp. American Indians and Disability. RuralFacts. Missoula, MT: American Indian Disability Legislation Project, Rural Institute on Disabilities, University of Montana, 2000. 4p. Free.

Dwyer, Kathy, comp. How Has the U.S. Government Addressed Disability Issues? Missoula, MT: American Indian Disability Legislation Project, Rural Institute on Disabilities, University of Montana, n.d. 1p. Free.

Dwyer, Kathy, comp. How Have American Indian Tribes Addressed Disability Issues? Missoula, MT: American Indian Disability Legislation Project, Rural Institute on Disabilites, University of Montana, n.d. 1p. Free.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Indian Health Service. Indian Health Service Directory, 1998. 99p. Available on the Internet at <http://www.ihs.gov>.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Indian Health Service. Trends in Indian Health, 1997. 213p. Available on the Internet at <http://www.ihs.gov/PublicInfo/Publications/trends97/trends97.asp>.

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribal Leaders Directory. 2000. 115p. Available on the Internet at <http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html>.

U.S. Office of Minority Health. Pocket Guide to Minority Health Resources. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Minority Health, 1999. 144p. Free. (Order from the Office of Minority Health Division of Information and Education, Rockwall II Building, Suite 1000, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20859). Web site: <http://www.omhrc.gov>.

U.S. Office of Minority Health Resource Center. American Indian and Alaska Native Sources of Health Materials. Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Minority Health, 1999. 9p. Free (P. O. Box 37337, 20013-7337).

Updated December 24, 2002