When discussions of at-risk students arise, Asian-American students are rarely mentioned. The stereotype of the model minority hurts at-risk Asian-American students. While their successful counterparts dominate honor rolls, at-risk Asian-American students are often overlooked and underserved. This paper discusses at-risk Asian-American students from a sociocultural perspective, addressing: (a) society's perceptions of Asian-American students, (b) teachers' perceptions of Asian-American students, (c) the Asian-American community's attitudes towards disabilities, and (d) the relationship of Asian-American students to special education. I conclude with suggestions for the field of education in addressing the needs of Asian-American students.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abidin, R. R., & Robinson, L. L. (2002). Stress, biases, or professionalism: What drives teachers' referral judgments of students with challenging behaviors?Journal of Emotional and Behavior Disorders, 2, 204–211.
2.
American Psychological Association. (2005). Briefing Sheet on Women and Depression. Retrieved April 20, 2005 from http://www.apa.org/ppo/issues/pwomenanddepress.html
3.
Artiles, A. J., Harry, B., Reschly, D. J., & Chinn, P. C. (2002). Over-identification of students of color in special education: A critical overview. Multicultural Perspectives, 4(1), 3–10.
4.
Artiles, A. J., & Trent, S. C. (1994). Overrepresentation of minority students in special education: A continuing debate. The Journal of Special Education, 2, 410–437.
5.
Asian American Federation of New York. (2005). Economic characteristics of Asian Americans in the New York metropolitan area. Retrieved August 3, 2006 from http://www.aafny.org/pdf/ExecutiveSummary.pdf
6.
Banks, J. A. (1999). An introduction to multicultural education.Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
7.
Barreto, R. M. (1997). Reform in teacher education through the CLAD/BCLAD policy. Multicultural Education, 2, 11–15.
8.
Borden, V. M. H., & Brown, P. C. (2003). The top 100: Interpreting the data. Black Issues in Higher Education, 20(10), 40–81.
9.
Bracey, G. W. (1999). Research: Demise of the Asian math gene. Phi Delta Kappan, 2, 619–620.
10.
Brantlinger, E., Klingner, J., & Richardson, V. (2005). Importance of experimental as well as empirical qualitative studies in special education. Mental Retardation, 2, 92–119.
11.
Butterfield, F. (1987). Are Asian-American kids really smarter [Abstract]?Reader's Digest, 2, 87–90.
12.
Campbell-Whatley, G. D. (2003). Recruiting and retaining of culturally and linguistically diverse groups in special education: Defining the problem. Teacher Education and Special Education, 2, 255–263.
13.
Chang, D. F., & Sue, S. (2003). The effects of race and problem type on teachers' assessments of student behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2, 235–242.
14.
Chen, R. K., Brodwin, M. G., Cardoso, E., & Chan, F. (2002). Attitudes toward people with disabilities in the social context of dating and marriage: A comparison of American, Taiwanese, and Singaporean college students. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 68(4), 5–7.
15.
Chen, X., & Li, B-S. (2000). Depressed mood in Chinese children: Development significance for social and school adjustment [abstract]. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2, 472–480.
16.
Chronicle of Higher Education. (2003). Almanac Issue 2003-4. August 29, 2003.
17.
Cobb, K. (1991, November 24). Color on campus: the quiet revolution: Asian-American students reveal dark side of “model minority” stereotype. The Houston Chronicle, p. A27.
18.
Cowart, M. F., Wilhelm, R. W., & Cowart, R. E. (1998). Voices from Little Asia: “Blue Dragon” teens reflect on their experiences as Asian Americans. Social Education, 2, 401–404.
19.
Dao, M. (1991). Designing assessment procedures for educationally at-risk Southeast Asian-American students. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2, 594–601, 629.
20.
Diamond, B. (1988). Are Asian-American kids really smarter?Seventeen, 47(5), 176–179.
21.
Ferguson, P. M. (2002). A place in the family: An historical interpretation of research on parental reactions to having a child with a disability. The Journal of Special Education, 2, 24–131.
22.
Gerber, M. M., & Semmel, M. I. (1984). Teacher as imperfect test: Reconceptualizing the referral process. Educational Psychologist, 2, 137–148.
23.
Green, M. L., & Way, N. (2005). Self-esteem trajectories among ethnic minority adolescents: A growth curve analysis of the patterns and predictors of change. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 2, 151–178.
24.
Hallahan, D. P., & Kauffman, J. M. (2003). Exceptional learners: Introduction to special education.Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
25.
Harry, B. (1992). Trends and issues in serving culturally diverse families of children with disabilities. The Journal of Special Education, 2, 131–140.
26.
Harry, B. (1995). Communication versus compliance: African-American parents' involvement in special education. Exceptional Children, 2, 364–77.
27.
Hauser-Cram, P., Sirin, S. R., & Stipek, D. (2003). When teachers' and parents' values differ: Teachers' ratings of academic competence in children from low-income families. Journal of Educational Psychology, 2, 813–820.
28.
Hernandez-Sheets, R., & Chew, L. (2002). Absent from the research, present in our classrooms: Preparing culturally responsive Chinese American teachers. Journal of Teacher Education, 2, 127–141.
29.
Hinchman, K. (2005). Why qualitative research continues to thrive: Jason and the politics of representation [abstract]. Reading Research Quarterly, 2, 100–5.
30.
Hollomon, H. A., Dobbins, D. R., & Scott, K. G. (1998). The effects of biological and social risk factors on special education placement: Birth weight and maternal education as an example [Abstract]. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2, 281–94.
31.
Hosp, J. L., & Reschly, D. J. (2004). Disproportionate representation of minority students in special education: Academic, demographic, and economic predictors. Exceptional Children, 2, 185–199.
32.
Hu, A. (1989). Asian Americans: Model minority or double minority?Amerasia Journal, 2, 243–257.
33.
Huer, M. B., Saenz, T. I., & Diem-Doan, J. H. (2001). Understanding the Vietnamese American community: Implications for training educational personnel providing services to children with disabilities. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 2, 27–39.
34.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Pub. L. No. 105-17, 111 Stat. 37 (1997).
35.
Kasahara, M., & Turnbull, A. P. (2005). Meaning of family-professional partnerships: Japanese mothers' perspectives. Exceptional Children, 2, 249–265.
36.
Kim, H. (1997, March 30). Debunking the myth: New study shows not all Asian American students are achievers in school. The Filipino Express, 11(13), 19.
37.
Kitano, M., & DiJiosia, M. (2002). Are Asian and Pacific Americans overrepresented in programs for the gifted?Roeper Review, 2, 76–80.
38.
Larissa, K., Ermolina, L., Song, D. H., & Lee, H. S. (1997). Psychosocial correlations of depression in adolescents. European Psychiatry, 2, 167–168.
39.
Masino, L. L., & Hodapp, R. M. (1996). Parental educational expectations for adolescents with disabilities. Exceptional Children, 2, 515–523.
40.
Menifield, C. E., Rose, W. H., Homa, J., & Cunningham, A. B. (2001). The media's portrayal of urban and rural school violence: A preliminary analysis. Deviant Behavior, 2, 447–464.
41.
Millner, H. R., Flowers, L. A., Moore, E., Moore III, J. L., & Flowers, T. A. (2003). Preservice teachers' awareness of multiculturalism and diversity. High School Journal, 87(1), 63–70.
42.
National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. (2000). Program standards for elementary teacher preparation source documents for the program standards [Electronic version]. Retrieved May 27, 2005 from http://acei.org/Sourcedocs3.htm
43.
Office of Special Education Programs. (2002). Twenty-fourth annual report to congress on the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (chap. 2). Retrieved January 2, 2, from http://www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/2002/section-ii.pdf
44.
Okazaki, S., & Kallivayalil, D. (2002). Cultural norms and subjective disability as predictors of symptom reports among Asian Americans and White Americans. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 2, 482–491.
45.
Poon-McBrayer, K. F., & Garcia, S. B. (2000). Profiles of Asian American students with LD at initial referral, assessment, and placement in special education. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2, 61–71.
46.
Proctor, B., & Prevatt, F. (2003). Agreement among four models used for diagnosing learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2, 459–466.
47.
Raspberry, W. (1994, February 21). Good students, good schools. Washington Post, p. A29.
48.
Siu, S-F. (1996). Asian American students at risk: A literature review (U.S. Department of Education R-117-D40005). Washington, DC: Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed At Risk (CRESPAR).
49.
Smallwood, S. (2005, May 27). U. of Oregon backs off plan linking tenure and 'cultural competency' after faculty members balk [Electronic version]. Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved May 27, 2005 from http://chronicle.com/prm/daily/2005/05/2005052702n.htm
50.
Taylor, C. R., & Stern, B. B. (1997). Asian-Americans: Television advertising and the “Model minority” stereotype. Journal of Advertising, 25(6), 47–61.
51.
Tyler, N. C., Yzquierdo, Z., Lopez-Reyna, N., & Flippin, S. S. (2004). Cultural and linguistic diversity and the special education workforce: A critical overview. The Journal of Special Education, 2, 22–38.
52.
U. S. Census Bureau. (2002). Poverty 2002. Retrieved January 4, 2, from http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/poverty02/r&dtable5.html
53.
Viviano, F. (1989, October 8). Not all Asians are making it.San Francisco Chronicle, p. 9z.
54.
Zhou, M., & Gatewood, J. V. (2000). Mapping the terrain: Asian American diversity and the challenges of the twenty-first century. Asian American Policy Review, 2, 5–29.
