A narrative inquiry into experiences of Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
ISSN: 1747-9894
Article publication date: 22 August 2023
Issue publication date: 27 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Children who are refugees and who live with disabilities are among the most at-risk groups for marginalization due to compounded disadvantages from the intersection of risk factors such as refugee status and disability status. Despite their high risk, there is no systematic data collected on this group and scant literature on the topic contributing to a feeling of invisibility. The purpose of this study is to better understand the experiences of Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a narrative inquiry into the experiences of two Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities. Narrative inquiry is a way to understand experience as a storied phenomenon.
Findings
In attending to the families’ stories of their experiences across time, place and social contexts, two narrative threads resonated across their experiences including waiting and a struggle for agency as well as disruption and continuity.
Research limitations/implications
Narrative inquiry does not produce generalizable results but, rather, gives insight into the unique experiences of individuals.
Originality/value
To understand the complexities of the experience of a refugee family with a child living with disabilities, attending to their lived and told stories is essential.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the insight gained by living alongside two families. The authors thank Amina Altamo, a Syrian refugee who acted as a translator.
Funding statement: This work was supported by a grant from the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta.
Data availability statement: The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
Citation
Beka, V., Caine, V., Clandinin, D.J. and Steeves, P. (2023), "A narrative inquiry into experiences of Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 19 No. 3/4, pp. 229-242. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-05-2022-0052
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited