The experiences of minority ethnic heritage parents having a child with SEND: a systematic literature review

Given the need to provide culturally competent children's services which support each child's right to full educational participation, the current systematic literature review aims to provide an up-to-date, international review of empirical studies that investigate the experience of minority ethnic heritage parents who have a child with special educational needs and disability (SEND). Studies were assessed using a qualitative assessment framework. Of the 17 studies that met the inclusion criteria, only 11 were classed as higher quality and included in the final synthesis. The findings highlight that for ethnic heritage families, parenting a child with a disability can be a highly stressful experience, involving a sense of loss and concerns for the child's future, compounded by familial and cultural factors as well as professional service factors, with religious beliefs and practices, on the whole, serving as a protective factor. Implications for educational psychology practice and future research are clearly identified.