Communicating disability- exploring the experience of immigrant women through art

Abstract

Through the utilization of art-journaling, this participatory arts-based inquiry was completed with a small group of immigrant women with the intention of creating knowledge around the experience of communicating about disability. A focus on collaboration and sharing stories led to the emergence of a number of themes. These themes highlighted many of the barriers faced by immigrant women living with disabilities in accessing adequate medical care and social services. In addition to the identified barriers, this research highlighted the incredible strength and resilience of the participants through each stage of the research process. The findings point to a need for systemic changes, which were highlighted by art works, discussions, and recommendations of the participants in the study.