If individuals from ethnic minorities are to benefit from direct payment schemes, service providers must find ways to overcome cultural differences, says Shuichi Terashima

This article explores the issue of cultural diversity among service users with learning disabilities, and the barriers to their access to direct payment supports. In all, 24 service providers and professionals were interviewed. Data analysis showed that the suitability of direct payment schemes to ethnically defined needs may be eroded by cultural insensitivities, communication failures and dependency on a competitive care market. Improved training of staff, maximal employment of culturally matched support workers, schemes to address language barriers and focused outreach are recommended.