Social Work with Disabilities

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Doc. Dr. Miriam Šramatá, Dr. Andrej Kallay

In the present day, disabled people are an inseparable part of society, participating in cultural and social life, creating values in the labour market, etc.

Social work with this target group is provided as:

  • material and economic help - social services and financial support are provided by the state
  • specific professional assistance – a social worker helps the client to solve his/her problems. A social worker can function as a provider, case manager, therapist, etc.

Assistance focuses on the rapid integration of a client into society, working life, and prevention from chronification and premature invalidity.

Community work with this target group is viewed as fundamental for 21st-century service provision. Community practice will be significantly more effective by developing the capacities of clients.

Community organization social workers help/work to improve service systems and develop new resources so that more people in the community will have access to the services they need in order to function better.

Professional training for students: The course is designed to provide students with a general overview of social work for disabled people.

The course objectives are that the student will acquire basic knowledge on the legislation, guiding principles and essential concepts concerning disability, as well as information on the conditions related to care, services and support to persons with disabilities from a social policy perspective.

Planning activities within the year 2008

We plan to carry out research on quality of life of people with disabilities.

The fundamental topics are:

  • the living conditions and socio-economic situation of disabled people
  • the legal system, guiding principles and essential concepts concerning disability and handicaps
  • general and specific support for disabled people
  • methods, treatment and ethics in social work practice for disabled people.

Updated: 29. 03. 2017