American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have a long tradition of military service, allying with Western forces in North America since the 1700s. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that AI/AN veterans experience higher rates of overall disability and service-related disability than veterans of other races and ethnicities. It is not clear, however, that AI/AN veterans with disabilities are receiving effective, culturally informed rehabilitation services. This article examines the incidence of disability among contemporary AI/AN veterans, considers barriers to effective treatment, and points out model programs tailored to the particular needs of this population, with attention to the historical and cultural context of AI/AN military service.
Project: Costs of Upward Social Mobility
Citation
Tovar, M., Patterson, D. A., & Stevenson, J. (2015). Toward a culturally informed rehabilitation treatment model for American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans. Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 14(3), 163–175. doi:10.1080/1536710X.2015.1068255