Superdiversity and Disability: Social Changes for the Cohesion of Migrations in Europe

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 4;17(18):6460. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186460.

Abstract

In recent years, international migration has changed considerably, improving our understanding of the diversity of migrants, something that until recently was viewed as a fixed pattern associated with the ethnic group in question. At the same time, in the international context, the importance and the need to recognize the rights of people with disabilities has grown. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a more detailed analysis of this phenomenon in Europe, from the perspective of superdiversity, which covers the different variables that come into play, as well as the responses to the diverse needs that are provided through the action protocols in host countries. To address the objective of this research, we present a critical review of the migration policies undertaken at the European level, methodologically approached using the causal inference model. Our findings show a lack of structure of social and professional intervention policies, at the international level, towards refugees with disabilities. We conclude by presenting a series of political guidelines that rely on scientific evidence to improve the lives of migrants with disabilities.

Keywords: disability; migrations; social changes; social work; superdiversity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Demography
  • Disabled Persons*
  • Europe
  • Humans
  • Population Dynamics
  • Refugees*
  • Social Change
  • Transients and Migrants*