cultural competence
understanding and appropriately responding to the unique combination of cultural variables and the full range of dimensions of diversity that the professional and client/patient/family bring to interactions
–> dynamic and complex process requiring self-assessment and continuous expansion of knowledge
culture
encompasses a variety of factors, including age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, language, dialect, immigration status, …
relevance of cultural competence for audiologists/SLT’s
practice in a manner that considers each client’s cultural and linguistic characteristics and unique values
=> provide the most effective assessment and intervention services
- respond to demographic changes
- eliminate long-standing disparities in the health status of people
- improve the quality of services and health outcoomes
- meet legislative, regulatory and accreditation mandates
- contribute to a competitive edge in the marketplace
- decrease the likelihood of liability/malpractice claims
measures that enable responsiveness to the cultural and linguistic differences
- consider the influence of your own viases and beliefs + their potential impact on service delivery
- identifying and acknowledging limitations in education, training, and knowledge and
seeking additional resources and education - ongoing professional development of cultural competence
- demonstrating respect for someone’s age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, …
- integrating client’s traditions, customs, values and beliefs in service delivery
- identifying the impact of assimilation and acculturation on communication patterns
- …
advocacy specific to cultural competence
- collaborating with other professionals and organizations
- gaining knowledge of high risk factors for specific communities
- providing education regarding prevention strategies in particular communities
- providing appropriate and culturally relevant consumer information and marketing tools
- identifying and educating communities regarding the impact of legislation on service delivery
