Community Participation Among Refugees and Asylum Seekers Who Experienced Trauma

The global refugee crisis has resulted in millions of individuals and families displaced by war, persecution, and violence, many of whom arrive in host countries carrying histories of trauma and ongoing instability. For refugees and asylum seekers, rebuilding life is not only a matter of safety and survival, but also of reestablishing their participation in daily life, reclaiming their identity, and securing a sense of belonging in their new communities. Despite this, refugees and asylum seekers with disabilities and a history of trauma frequently encounter barriers, structural, psychosocial, and cultural, that constrain their opportunities to engage in meaningful activities. This dissertation aimed to investigate post-displacement community participation among refugees and asylum seekers with disabilities and trauma histories through mixed-method techniques informed by a participatory action research approach: a quantitative analysis of post- displacement activity engagement; a qualitative exploration of participation meaning, barriers, and supports; and two participatory, Appreciative Inquiry–informed focus group studies to co- design supports. Across these steps, twenty adult refugees and asylum seekers receiving services at a torture treatment center in Chicago, as well as five service providers working at that center, contributed their perspectives, experiences, and ideas for change. Findings from this dissertation suggest that participation is understood by refugees and asylum seekers not as passive inclusion, but as an active contribution to their sense of dignity and belonging. Trauma disrupted participants’ engagement across various life domains, leading to feelings of fear, isolation, and a survival-driven lifestyle. At the same time, post-displacement stressors such as unstable housing, unemployment, and systemic exclusion compounded these challenges. This study highlights that participation for trauma-affected refugees and asylum seekers with disabilities is both a pathway to recovery and a right that must be supported through policy, environmental, and community-level change. Addressing societal injustice requires not only attending to trauma recovery but also dismantling structural barriers and expanding opportunities for meaningful, self-directed engagement. Findings from this dissertation contribute to disability and refugee studies and to community practice by documenting the multifaceted nature of participation after trauma and demonstrating the potential of participatory approaches to design supports that honor resilience, restore dignity, and promote equitable inclusion.

Author dc:creator

• Elnaz Alimi (20484575)

• Health Sciences
• Rehabilitation and Therapy

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.25417/uic.32994197.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/32994197