American Indian Approaches to Disability Policy: Establishing Legal Protections for Tribal Members with Disabilities: Five Case Studies

This report presents case studies of five American Indian tribes that employed the Tribal Disability Actualization Process for considering disability legislative and policy issues. The first section reviews the history of the relationship between Indian nations and the United States, and addresses the demography of disability among American Indians as well as cultural views of disability among tribes. The American Indian Disability Legislation (AIDL) Project aimed to create a process for tribes to use in developing disability legislation that is consistent with the principles established by the Americans with Disabilities Act, but also respects tribal sovereignty and cultural diversity. The Tribal Disability Actualization Process includes identifying and developing key leadership contacts, seeking tribal authorization, holding cultural discussions and focus groups, and developing and implementing policy recommendations. Case studies of the Flathead Reservation (Montana), Navajo Reservation (Arizona), Pine Ridge Reservation (South Dakota), Fort Peck Reservation (Montana), and the Nez Perce Reservation (Idaho) examine implementation of this process and summarize focus group discussions and recommendations for policy development. Major issues included traditional beliefs about disabilities, public awareness education, public accommodations and access, employment, transportation, tribal jurisdiction over services, and training needs. This report concludes that the use of the Tribal Disability Actualization Process successfully brought together a wide range of concerned tribal members who identified important disability issues and generated recommendations that led to changes in tribal government practices and policies. Appendices include resolutions of the National Congress of American Indians supporting the development of American Indian disability legislation and AIDL, a map of focus groups, and tribal amendments regarding disability policy. Contains a computer diskette and 15 references. (LP)