The Voice of the Invisible Minority : An Intersectional Analysis of the Integration of Immigrants with Disabilities in Finland

Abstract

In mainstream literature on migration and the dominant Eurocentric studies on disability, immigrants with disabilities are an invisible population whose lived experiences are cast aside. Indeed, there has not been a solid bridge that connects the areas of inquiry in migration and disability. As a result, the voices of immigrants with disabilities remain unheard. This research is an attempt to contribute to filling in this knowledge and information gap. It does so by exploring the lived experiences of immigrants with disabilities and their integration trajectories in Finland, including an examination of factors attributed to their integration and preclusion in the host society. A qualitative research method of semi-structured interviews documented the sentiments, experiences, and perceptions of a sample of immigrants with disabilities in Finland. These data were then interpreted through content analysis. The application of an intersectionality framework allowed a comprehensive appreciation of the specificities of their lived experiences, thereby unmasking the multiple identities of these immigrants beyond their apparent disabilities and migration statuses. The findings of the study suggest that Finland's well-functioning welfare system has assisted the integration process of immigrants with disabilities and their quest to lead an independent life. However, the Finnish immigration policy and integration program continue to adopt an ableist approach (i.e., formulated based on conditions and assumptions of non-disabled immigrants). As such, existing policies and institutional capacity are inadequate to respond to the special needs of immigrants with disabilities, whose overall economic, social, and political integration is impacted by their multiple oppressive identities. The research reveals that immigrants with disabilities who have lesser oppressive identities are better integrated and included in the host society than those with more oppressive identities.