Social Work 576 - Contexts of Disability and Anti-ableist Practice (3 credits)
Fridays, 11:30am to 2:20 pm (Remote, synchronous)
Instructor: Seema Bahl
Open to upper division undergrads and all graduate students
Interested students should request add code through this process: https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1387757/pages/graduate-non-matric-and-out-of-dept-registration
This course is designed to deepen your understanding of disability and its relevance to social work. We will discuss disability’s recent socio-political history, the different definitions of disability and ableism, models of disability, and current policy issues at the national, state, and local level. Emphasis will be placed on how these policies and their implications for practice affect peoples’ daily lives. This course will engage a broad range of topics that are foundational to social work practice with people with disabilities, including intersectionality, activism for policy change, person-centered practice, employment, home and community-based services, institutional and sexual violence, education, and transition to adulthood. We will discuss the disability rights framework as well as the disability justice framework. We will also learn from a diverse group of visiting practitioners, scholars, and advocates about the connection between current policy issues and social services in practice. This course, through guest lectures, reading, discussion, and written analysis, will facilitate critical reflection on your professional stance on disability and social work.