Changing attitudes

Family relationships in China and other Asian societies are evolving for reasons similar to those across the globe. Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist constructs may be rejected by some, or interpreted differently, particularly by the younger generation who are more affected by widespread migration and social media. Changes are more pronounced in industrialised Asian countries like China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. As traditional values change, so do attitudes to disability.

Interestingly however, Scior et al (2010) note that although disability activists and self-advocacy efforts in Hong Kong are leading to changes in beliefs about empowerment, attitudes about inclusion are not changing. This may indicate the deeply embedded and enduring values of Confucianism in Chinese culture.

Beliefs about causes

• Punishment
  Disability can be seen as a punishment for wrong doings by the parents or the person with the disability, or for the wrongs of past family members (Buddhism, Taoism, ancestor worship, Confucianism).
• Gift
  Some regard disability as a gift from God, as an opportunity to develop moral character and earn good merit (Buddhism, Confucianism). Sometimes good fortune following the birth of a child with an impairment is attributed to the child.
• Curse
  Disability is sometimes attributed to a curse by an evil spirit. An individual or family may be cursed because of wrong doings. Mental illness can be blamed on evil spirits or punishment from gods. (Has origin in ancestor worship).
• Balance/imbalance and Chi
  Maintaining the optimum flow of Chi/Qi (life force) through the balance of yin and yang elements in an individual is a traditional health approach for most Asians. An unbalanced diet (hot/cold foods) and not maintaining yin/yang balance, is believed to cause illness or disability in the newborn. Similarly experiencing intense grief or anger, or emotional disturbance during pregnancy is seen to affect balance and can resulting in a baby born with disability. These beliefs stem from the principle in both Taoism and Confucianism about maintaining harmony and 'proper' relationship with the environment and with self.
• Superstitions about the action of the mother during pregnancy
  Some people believe that certain actions of the mother during pregnancy can cause a child to be born with disability, e.g. attending a funeral, looking into a coffin during pregnancy, or digging a hole. One woman reported that staring at a statue when she was in labour was the cause of her child being born with paralysis. In these cases mothers usually carry the blame for the impairment.
• Biomedical
  Many people have biomedical explanations for disability as well as religious or cultural.
• Karma
  Buddhism teaches that all actions have consequences. Congenital or acquired disability can be seen as the result of bad actions in a past life, or present life if the disability is acquired. The karmic debts may belong to the disabled person or to the parents.
• Ancestor worship
  Some believe that a disability is the result of the anger of the ancestors, however this is different to karma and has its origins in ancestor worship and belief in fate.

Many of the younger generation reject conservatism and traditionalism; not all Chinese or East Asians will subscribe to any of the above beliefs, some might hold some of these in conjunction with biomedical views.