Mapping context for supporting American Indian families of youth with disabilities.

It is important and necessary to focus upon four basic elements in order to develop contexts ("systems") that can effectively respond to serious circumstances of American Indian families who have youth with disabilities. First, it is necessary to attend to the characteristics of each of the primary participants: 1) Indian youth; 2) their families; 3) service providers; and 4) those who usually determine policy. Second, it is necessary to map the primary transactions between these participants. Third, it is necessary to understand discrepancies between the primary ideas about troubles and help each of these groups of participants bring with them to their interactions. Finally, it is necessary to consider how participants, processes, and principles might come together in a patterned way such that a coherent, cohesive, supportive, caring community might be created, which allows for and promotes mutual gifting. A brief description of a model to form contexts for "helping" and supporting American Indian youth and their families is presented. Moving from a Western-oriented paradigm based upon vertical, hierarchical systems of power and control (one serving the many) toward a paradigm emphasizing a more horizontal but nested affiliative system (many serving the one) is at the center of these family-centered community efforts.