Working with Japanese families with young children with special needs

Each cultural group adheres to different value systems, norms, expectations, and goals that affect family functions and child rearing practices. These underlying values distinctively shape the ways in which parents socialize and raise their children (Greenfield & Cocking, 1994). In this paper, by using the theoretical framework of ecological and individualism-collectivism model, the case study will examine how Japanese culture affects family function, child rearing practices, communication style, notion of disability, attitudes towards special education, and parent's expectations of professionals in early childhood special education. Differences in these fmdings will be analyzed to provide strategies and recommended practice for professionals to work with Japanese families and children with special needs. By exploring recommended practices, early childhood special education (ECSE) professionals can increase their cross cultural competency, understand contributing factors to family functions, improve their decision making process for the child's education, and more effectively communicate and work with the family.