CULTURAL BELIEFS TOWARDS CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES PERCEPTIONS OF PARENTS IN KLANG VALLEY, MALAYSIA

Abstract Individuals’ cultural backgrounds in Malaysia significantly impact their views and behaviours, particularly concerning medical issues such as physical disability. This influence is pervasive and extends to various aspects of life, including the upbringing of children with impairments. To gain insight into Malaysians' cultural ideas on disability, a qualitative research approach was employed. The study utilised semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 17 parents from Malaysia's three main ethnicities residing in the Klang Valley region, each with a child with a physical impairment. The interviews were conducted with the participants' informed consent and transcribed for thematic analysis. The findings revealed that attitudes towards impairments are shaped by socialisation, assimilation, and adaptation to current conditions rather than being limited to specific races or religions. Malaysians' cultural attitudes towards impairments are influenced by biomedical and traditional perspectives, independent of ethnic or religious origin. Cultural competence is, therefore, crucial for promoting inclusion and supporting the active participation of people with disabilities in Malaysian society, given the nation's heterogeneous makeup.