Theme 3 Videos. Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Supports and Services
Culture and language shape how people and families understand disability, seek support, build trust, and participate in services. This theme uses the lenses of culture and language to explore what meaningful community engagement can look like in intellectual and developmental disabilities systems.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families belong to many different communities. This topic focuses on culturally and linguistically competent ways to meaningfully engage diverse communities and their members across the life course.
Why This Topic Matters
Community engagement is different from community outreach. Outreach often means an organization reaches out to a community in a one-way direction. Community engagement requires a two-way relationship built through collaboration, trust, respect, and shared understanding.
For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, meaningful engagement requires more than sharing information. It depends on understanding how communities build partnerships, communicate needs, make decisions, and define trust.
Read the Topic Guide
Read the Guide: Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Supports and Services
This web-based guide includes key definitions, cultural considerations, reflection questions, references, and selected approaches for engaging diverse communities in intellectual and developmental disabilities supports and services.
Watch the Videos
Topic Video
Note on videos: Audio and captions are available in multiple languages. Use the gear icon in the video player to choose your language.
Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Supports and Services
Featuring: Stanfort, Abiba, Bin, Tawara, and Cindy
Culture and language are essential to engaging people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, and communities in meaningful ways. This video explores trust, language access, respectful communication, cultural brokers, and the importance of meeting communities where they are. It highlights how providers and systems can build stronger relationships by listening, learning, and honoring the cultural preferences, expectations, and lived experiences of the people they support.
Personal Story Videos
Food of Love
Featuring: Shaila, Ash, and Aditya
Shaila shares how food, faith, family, and cultural traditions remain central in Aditya's life. Through Indian meals, temple visits, and community dinners at Aditya's residence, Shaila helps keep him connected to his roots and the people who support him. Their story shows how culturally responsive services can honor identity, strengthen community, and make everyday life more meaningful for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Come to Us
Featuring: Rubaiya and Tamzeed
Rubaiya shares how language, culture, food, and trust shaped her family's journey after Tamzeed was diagnosed with autism. When English-speaking services did not meet Tamzeed's needs, Rubaiya sought support from people who shared their language and culture. Her story grew into a broader effort to help Bangladeshi families in New York access information, services, and community in ways that feel familiar, respectful, and empowering.
About the Speakers and Storytellers
Bin Feng
Bin Feng is the father of Vincent, a young adult with autism and ADHD who works, uses self-direction services, votes, participates in advocacy events, and lives a life shaped by his interests and choices, with needed support. Bin has volunteered for more than 20 years to support Chinese families of children and adults on the autism spectrum in China and the United States. He is a co-founder of Project Ready, a nonprofit that supports Chinese and Asian immigrant families during the transition to adulthood. He also serves in multiple advocacy and advisory roles, including with the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Parent to Parent of New York State.
Tawara D. Goode
Tawara D. Goode served as the principal investigator and oversaw the successful implementation and quality assurance of all aspects of the OPWDD-NCCC Partnership. Professor Goode is the Director of the Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC). In this role, she is recognized as a thought leader in cultural and linguistic competence and for building the NCCC into a nationally and internationally recognized, award-winning program. She is also the Director of the Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and oversees short-term and ongoing programs for persons at risk for, and with, developmental and other disabilities across the life course, as well as for their families. In 2026, she was appointed Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Abiba Kindo
Abiba Kindo serves as Deputy Commissioner for OPWDD’s Division of Service Access, Program Implementation, and Stakeholder Support. Her division supports access to disability services, oversees statewide implementation, and works with regional and district offices across New York State. Abiba’s work focuses on service access, equity, diversity, inclusion, fairness, sustainability, provider capacity, and education for people with disabilities, families, providers, and stakeholders. She previously served as Associate Deputy Commissioner for OPWDD’s regional offices and held executive and leadership roles in the voluntary sector.
Aditya Narayana
Aditya Narayana, 30, lives semi-independently in Hartsdale, New York, with support from The Arc Westchester. He was born in Illinois, spent his early years in Ohio, and moved to New York as a child. Diagnosed with autism at age 4, Aditya attended Montessori school, public school, and later the New England Center for Children. He is bilingual in English and Kannada and enjoys music, dancing, math, puzzles, bowling, rowing on the Hudson River, and spending time outdoors. His Hindu faith and temple visits are important to him, as are his family, friends, and community.
Ashwatha “Ash” Narayana
Ashwatha Narayana, MD, is a professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Chairman of Radiation Medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital. He has trained medical students, residents, and fellows, and his clinical focus is on brain tumors. His research has focused on optimizing anti-angiogenic therapy, understanding resistance, and enhancing the immune effects of radiation therapy. Dr. Narayana has published widely, lectured internationally, and worked to improve the quality and access to cancer therapy in developing countries.
Stanfort J. Perry
Stanfort J. Perry has 35 years of leadership experience advancing health, independence, and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He serves as CEO of AHRC Nassau, Brookville Center for Children’s Services, and Citizens Options Unlimited, which together form one of the largest disability service networks in the United States. Under Stanfort’s leadership, the network has earned major state and international recognition for person-centered excellence. One of his primary objectives is bringing together neighbors of all abilities through innovative initiatives, including the Thomas S. Gulotta Wheatley Farms & Arts Center in Brookville, which offers educational and employment opportunities focused on the arts, nature, and wellness. He has been named a “Notable Black Leader” by Crain’s New York Business and received the Caring for the Community Award from the Nassau Community College Foundation. He also co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees for the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation and The Arc New York and serves on numerous boards.
Rubaiya Rahman
Rubaiya Rahman is an advocate for women’s and disability rights. She serves as President of the New American Women’s Forum and the South Asian Women organization, where she develops programs that support education, leadership, and empowerment. She also founded the Autism Society Habilitation Organization (ASHO), a nonprofit serving the South Asian community. Rubaiya works closely with local communities to advance disability rights, promote inclusive support systems, and create community-driven change.
Tamzeed Rahman
Tamzeed Rahman is a young person with developmental disabilities, known for his kindness, warm personality, and bright smile.
He brings positivity to those around him and is deeply loved by his family and community.
Shailaja “Shaila” Setty
Dr. Shailaja Setty is a pediatrician with extensive clinical experience in India and the United States. She is a consultant in pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Northwell Health in Westchester and practices in Somers and Mount Kisco. Dr. Setty is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has cared for children from infancy through young adulthood. She has also served as a professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, teaching medical students and residents.