My Painting Journey

 

I have some incredible news! I started making new forms of art and decided to narrow my journey. On May 19, 2021, I met Paige Snedeker who also has RTD and is also an artist. We both communicated via Zoom. I learned from her artistic experiences that she uses her mouth to paint and is an inspiration to many artists with multiple physical disabilities. I decided to try painting the same way and it has changed my perspective. For many years I created most of my artwork through digital applications just by using my nose. Now that I found out what other people with RTD are doing with their creative endeavors, I was motivated to try a new technique. Using a mouth brush holder to paint gives me the power and consistency to incorporate this new perspective. The part of my mouth I prefer most is the middle where the brush is positioned between my lips. I’ve been painting outside in the shade for at least a month. I have been using acrylic paints mixed them with water.  Some of my paints are ones that my uncle gave me, and I also purchased my own professional set of paints from a company called Blick. Liquitex Basics is one of brands I’ve been using that I like. So far, I have 32 different colors and I’m able to combine them together to create different colors and shades. The greatest challenge I have in terms of filling the background is the ability to reach the top part of each piece. Before I paint the other side I move the paper upside down so I don’t have to lean forward too far. I sit at a large, portable craft table to allow room for sketch paper of all sizes. I don’t feel the need to wear an apron or smock at this time since I can handle the spillage with the correct materials and someone helping me pick up the paint from the plastic trays. 

 

I believe I inherited my artistic interest and ability from my grandmother who is also an artist and went to college for visual arts.  My uncle is also a very talented artist.  But in addition to my family’s influence, there have been other things that have inspired me.  I am particularly motivated when I see other people with disabilities sharing similar artistic experiences.  I’m a big fan of King Gimp! and the documentary I about how he paints with a headset. This impressed me because he came up with a cool way to adapt to the world of art despite his physical limitations. After I lost the ability to hold painting tools on my right hand as a teenager, I naturally began using the most obvious second choice to draw, which was my nose. I did not know much about the effectiveness of using the mouth until recently. I still use my nose and the technology to create art pieces, and my goal right now to spend more time using the Procreate app to produce as many pieces as possible. I plan to sell my work online to help pay for college and/or an art studio. A great thing about Procreate is it offers a wide selection of tools along with essential ones, such as the Brush Library, Smudge, and the color circle. It’s a new program to me but I’m getting familiar with everything. Procreate is designed for both beginners and professional artists to explore varying styles and techniques that would build their skills. 

 

Several months ago, I entered the, the Ellene "Brit" Christiansen Memorial Art Contest for Artists with Disabilities:  "Optimism, Resilience, Hope!" My artwork won second place and I received a $500 check plus a Blick gift certificate in honor of statewide competition. One of the judges was Maryland’s First Lady, Yumi Hogan.  Being an artist has helped me gain appreciation of the world as well as objects I see that represent hope and optimism. Nothing in life slows me down from accomplishing my work. My friend from Ohio who is also diagnosed with RTD is a naturally talented painter. Like I said, the stories I hear from disabled artists are inspiring. Mouth painting works well for me and I consider it a long-term solution until the day comes that science can give me back use of my arms and hands.  I encourage new beginners with disabilities to do the same. Painting is a fun process, and it brings opportunities to express ourselves and influence people’s understanding and attitude toward people with disabilities.

 

 

 

 

The Top Areas of Social Work

I don’t have a lot of experience in social work. However, because I am an expert on living with a disability and have done research on social justice, I’m expressing an interest in working with communities in need. One reason I found the right path is because I enjoy using my strengths and intentions to bring about change in the lives of people.  Social work is a diverse field. It is an integral profession that helps people cope with various problems in everyday lives. The types of social work vary depending on the form of practice within a specific population. For example, clinical social workers diagnose and treat patients with psychiatric diseases. There are two distinct areas of social work practice: generalist and specialization. As with my understanding of the difference between both, generalist practice means having a broad base of knowledge of problems that can be addressed in all levels (such as family, group, individual, and community) while specialist practice includes a higher degree of intervention including palliative care and psychotherapy.

 

Below is a summary of the primary areas of social work that explains what skills are required to perform the job effectively based on the level of intervention. I have highlighted a list of jobs available across the United States, along with pictures depicting a social worker talking to clients directly. If you intend to become a social worker, this information will help you figure out which area of practice suits you the most. Think of something you are really good at doing. If you are interested in learning more about the types of work with clients, view www.betterhelp.com for additional details.

 

 

1. Healthcare Social Work

 

Medical social workers work with patients who are seriously ill to address the need for treatment options, scheduling appointments, and helping patient families cope with medical problems. Social work practice in clinical settings involves collaborating with nurses and healthcare professionals to provide information about resources available to care for the sick, making clients eligible for health benefits such as SSI and Medicaid. Some work with a combination of families and pregnant women to discuss possible solutions before a child is born normal and healthy. Others work with elderly residents to explore long-term care options when they are no longer managing independently at home. These jobs are found in hospitals, mental health clinics, and hospice care facilities. A medical social worker in the emergency room may experience frequent deaths of residents as well as traumatic incidents related to their physical and psychological conditions that require intensive care. They provide psychotherapy and substance abuse counseling in a client-centered approach. Depending on the field they are in, some social workers arrange follow-ups with foster care agencies to schedule child visits and report appeals to the court when children are living in a structured environment. Many hospitals have an intensive care unit and a substance abuse unit that they are assigned to take part in.

 

The days they work with their clients are good and bad. Many professionals think of clinical social work as an exciting career because they enjoy working with people deal with situations that affect human beings. There are positions where employees are intimidated by their relationship with client systems not being helped by them. The lack of autonomy and control over the position is one of the common issues social workers face when seeing patients suffering pain. Because of this, it’s important that clinical social workers keep track on their daily records and make time for a certain number of clients in response to health needs. Understanding the frustrations people have about themselves in hesitation to live in society requires active listening and it gives them a chance to accept the solutions a social worker is offering. The key responsibilities in getting the job done include checking in with clients to see how they feel, outreach with state and local agencies sharing complaints, and going to the office every day to get in touch with people who need immediate support.

 

Social work practitioners with the sub-specialty in HIV/AIDS must be highly knowledgeable of physiological effects of sexually transmitted diseases to maintain focus on sessions allowing clients to adjust to drug therapy. The number of patients struggling to learn how to survive despite suffering and pain feel the need to benefit from the help of clinical social workers who lead support groups to provide relief from life-threatening conditions. Client deaths happen many times during the position working with them and it makes the clinical situation exhausting and emotionally demanding. The job requires having a sense of creativity and skill to be able to make the best of helping survivors live with as much comfort and happiness as possible. The efforts to addressing pregnancy issues are essentially part of the priority for social workers with a broader understanding of infertility to offer reproductive services before the baby is born.

 

2. Research Methods

 

 

Research capacity helps social workers to document on client assumptions of life. They collect data and write field notes to learn how to help people in need. A direct service worker, for instance, may choose to do an exploratory research study focusing on parental caregiving and children at risk for HIV. The purpose of doing field research in social work is to evaluate the strengths, self-management, and what is most needed to achieve intervention goals. The types of research that is normally done in home visits or in the clinic would depend on the level of capacity. Questionnaires and interviews are administered by coworkers to discuss the ethical requirements of research papers. When participants are active in the studies, a researcher must develop strong interactions with them using analytical and listening skills. It’s not quite easy, but important. This makes the process more valid with the effectiveness of data collection. If you work in the clinic serving as a medical consultant, you would be assigned to join sick patients in the appointment room to do a correlative questionnaire before they are seen by the doctor. In addition to most other professions, psychologists and public health educators have the duty to gather data from observations for estimating the number of individuals who have received therapy.

 

3. School Social Work

 

 

School social workers manage group and classroom activities for students. They are generally employed full-time compared to classroom hours for teachers and school personnel. They work Monday through Friday each week and take weekends off to relax and have fun. Students can often be supervised and taken care of by social workers if they have serious trouble at school. The caseload focuses on helping kids cope with changing situations that impact their social behavior.  School social workers communicate with teachers and parents of students with difficulty balancing classroom learning and feelings of distress. Dealing with peer pressure and bullying is always a perfect way to promote a better education for all students. As a school social worker, you may observe young kids getting into a fight in a playground, what would you do? Imagine that you are investigating an incident that happened at recess. You may decide to pull students apart and escort them to the front office to arrange disciplinary referrals and discuss resolutions of conflict. Social workers also provide group counseling to help kids make better choices for learning to meet their goals. It can be referred to students in special education who share the same teachers. Part of the job involves attending IEP meetings with teachers and staff to discuss transition plans and the possibilities for disadvantaged students to take mainstream classes. Many feel isolated when working alone in a designated environment, which is why being able to connect with other social workers within the school district is helpful. Creativity and effective time management skills are necessary characteristics of school social work. There are jobs available in rural areas that social workers must become trusted and confident with respect to the values as a member of the community. Being respectful to the entire population gives you the ability to do the job in an ethically responsible manner so your interventions are appropriate in practice.

With a problem-focused approach in school social work, professionals need to be able to intervene child-family systems who are in conflict with each other, ranging from abuse to disruption in student learning and mental functioning. A teen who is hurt or depressed after being beaten by his or her parents should seek intensive counseling and psychotherapy to reduce these feelings even if the victim chooses to drop out of school. This method of intervention plays a big role in resolving conflict between families and the school community. Social workers receive reports about what happened to kids to try to deal with the incident.

 

4. Working with Gay and Lesbian Youth

 

Since social work with homosexuals is a widely growing field, many jobs are available in community-based organizations that provides a supportive network for gay and lesbian couples. An interesting thing about coordinating programs for young people is that a team of social workers and members of an agency are engaged in projects to help gay and lesbian clients who struggle to come out. They provide opportunities to face the challenges in living as a homosexual through outreach and group interaction. They often put together a list of foundations to make clients eligible for support groups. A social worker in this field helps families with a history of sexual complications reduce anxiety towards gay and lesbian relatives. Understanding and analyzing the stereotypes of same-sex couples leads to greater effectiveness of helping them cope with isolation, violence, and rejection from family members. A mother who is disappointed about her daughter’s relationship with a lesbian partner creates stigma as a result of her homophobia (it is an important concept in working with lesbians and gays who are coming out.) A social worker must acknowledge the feelings shared by clients in order to get the help they need and connect them with groups. Community-based projects consisting of state grants and funding for direct services provide transportation and recreational activities to support LGBTQ movement. The social worker’s role in meeting with gay and lesbian youth is to explore possible opportunities to participate in groups that can solve problems for them. A nightclub, for example, is a perfect place to hang out with others who share similar experiences in dating. It is true that growing up as homosexual isn’t a bad thing, but there are some cases where crime rates are reported in certain areas that require enough licensed social workers available to address the issue.

 

5. Social Work in Child Protective Services

 

In this field, child protection social workers are responsible for intervening the cases of child abuse and neglect. They often keep children safe in foster care programs once they are removed from their homes. The placement of abused children into institutions with adaptive caregivers is an important task because it provides them with security and comfort on a daily basis. Social workers who serve in child welfare agencies are often employed by state governments. With difficult decisions to be made, you have to go through these allegations to ensure quality protection based on a family systems perspective. Most child protective workers submit reports for the judge to issue a court order to permit children’s withdrawal from unsafe homes. This profession is filled up with different types of services to help families who have the history of abuse, psychiatric problems, violence, and drug/alcohol addiction. If a father is mentally ill and tries to kick his daughter out permanently, you must respond to this situation by testifying the consequences for abuse. Agency vehicles are designed to pick up children at various places and driving them to hospitals or adaptive care facilities for getting the help they need. Other tasks include casework, management, and administrative planning. Some child welfare social workers work in neighborhood centers that supervise youth development while creating day programs for adolescents.

 

A specific skill set is required in this field. You must be able to empathize for others in order to best protect families and children. It’s important to keep the levels of stress down, maintain a balance of what you do during and outside of work. Recognizing the “good” is vital to enhance preparation for challenging outcomes of working in the field.

 

6. Employee Assistance

These jobs in the employee assistance programs are available in providing human services to employees and their families in need. Like many other professions, employee support workers help clients remove barriers related to job performance. Since most social workers serve in national networks that contribute resources to employee assistance programs, they are involved in a combination of roles through a specialized process of addressing employee problems including advocates, counselors, mediators, brokers, and organizers.  The professionals in this field meet with clients to assess specific reasons why they don’t get along with co-workers. It provides training for employers and supervisors to help them understand how to manage troubling situations experienced by those who fail to perform well on the job. An intervention strategy involves looking at a difficult situation in which group dynamics impact diversity in the workplace. For employees who are referred by the supervisor, social workers must notify the concerns on job performance to a team to seek employee-based services. A chemical dependency assessment is also an important part of the position that enables social workers to acknowledge substance use as a job performance issue. Imagine that you have an appointment with a teenager who is referred by his supervisor for using drugs with a group of friends that he ended up losing his job. What would you do to solve this problem regarding his poor behavior? It is important to understand that workplaces are stressors to employees and that work-related problems cannot be resolved without offering help, as it is for EAP to be used as a resource. You may conduct workshops to inform the strategies of managing stress and handling conflicts off employees and employers. It allows both a social worker and a client to work together on getting help from an agency so they can improve focus on their productivity and do better at work.

 

7. Social Work with Individuals with Disabilities

 

An area of work with children and adults with disabilities is a meaningful position. Agencies that direct the services to this population provides support and information on resources that best meet the needs of families and children. Disability social workers assess and review the diagnosis of a client’s specific disability that includes physical and cognitive limitations. The job has a primary focus on adapting resources with accommodations according to disability needs. These professional social workers supervise and coordinate with agencies that provide consultation of staff of special education teachers, physical and occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists to guide their work with children with special needs. Advocacy is an equally important aspect of the field because many family systems face the challenges for a child’s ability to function in the world. A social worker must acknowledge that all people with disabilities have the right to become a full human, advocate for opportunities to obtain necessary accommodations despite limitations. Everyone can attend school and be part of the community with access to public transportation and personal care. The hours of support are manageable within agencies. Many disability social workers share a depth of knowledge in vocational rehabilitation that enables clients to find good jobs and live independently. The field of Supported Employment is a practical concept as it comes with disabilities. If you are the one working with a client employee who suffers from injury on the job, think about what needs to be done to monitor the changes to the client’s lifestyle. There are challenges that may not always be intervened immediately. The good news is that social workers and employment specialists expand a full range of resources for accommodations to be provided so that disabled individuals of all types can enter the workforce. However, it is important to be cautious about what might work best for them based on their differences.  If you have a strong interest in developmental disabilities, you may meet with single parents who are unemployed and require public assistance to reduce risk for poverty while raising children. You would say that mothers who are unable to work are eligible for financial aid regarding her disability like SSI or SSDI, but eligibility is often determined by an agency. Funding is a key issue for the disability population. In most cases, organizations offer programs to help effectively meet basic needs of family and child with special needs. Social workers must gain professional expertise with writing and case management skills. Implementing clear policies about disability rights requires a sufficient amount of knowledge in law and development throughout the life span.

 

8. Social Work in the Mental Health Field

 

Mental health is a widely growing field of social work practice that deals with psychiatric conditions affecting the lives of people with intense needs. Psychiatric social workers provide therapy and assessments to patients and their families. These professionals are employed in a wide variety of settings that is typically based on the level of intervention. Some work in clubhouses that support members with their educational and employment goals. If you are the social worker looking to help clients who require long periods of mental health care, earning a master or graduate degree in this field is a useful way to obtain knowledge of treatment options for those in constant need. This type of practice includes clients with drug and alcohol addiction, and those who have suicidal thoughts. Social workers also work with mentally ill patients being hospitalized for days to weeks. Facilitating admissions and discharges is the goal for clinical social workers to make treatment plans for their clients. Some patients may be offered to put in a waiting list for transitioning to a residential care program if they need to. The most important aspect of the position involves leading groups to educate individuals about ways of coping with mental health problems. During therapy sessions theyr perform lectures on specific topics such as communication skills, reducing stress, anxiety and anger management, etc. Additionally, they teach their clients to be honest when describing feelings and thoughts about what they’re experiencing. Most of all, attending community meetings is considered one of the busiest times of the day that they are expected to be there. If you work in a highly clinical setting, you are to see patients throughout the day by doing psychotherapy. You meet with doctors abs other therapists to review diagnostic assessments and schedule appointments for psychotherapy. In other places where you will meet people with severe mental illnesses needing help adjusting to outcomes of life, you must possess a high degree of flexibility towards dealing with various issues. Psychosocial rehabilitation involves helping people who have difficulty overcoming personal and relationship problems on their own. The focus on a client’s diagnosis for psychiatric symptoms enables therapists to assess their treatment needs and exposing them to day programs that can provide mental health services. Having close contact with psychiatric staff is important because it builds on clients’ specific needs to guide intervention in meeting their goals.  The job requires patience, flexibility, and advanced social work skills in order to work effectively with people. The reasons why the clients are in the group and what their goals are must be documented before beginning the intervention process. There is a tool called the “partial hospitalization model” designed to support outpatient treatment so that patients don’t have to stay in the hospital with 24 hours of care. It is the program less restrictive than total hospitalizations that these clients attend to successfully achieve psychiatric stability through daily medication. A therapeutic approach to support groups demonstrates problem-solving as a strategy to improve mental functioning. A clinical social worker must be aware that behavioral changes are needed according to the severity of a patient’s condition. Any client should be allowed to return to community life after receiving therapy. The number of patients moving from in-patient care to programs without very strict policies has increased since the 1970’s, meaning more resources are being available to provide effective treatments over shorter periods of time. Day care centers and group homes are also places you can find work in mental health. The key duties a social worker performs on the job include meeting with different kinds of people, managing and organizing activities, completing administrative tasks, and reality checking in with clients to see how they are doing.

 

9. Social Work in the Criminal Justice System

 

 

In general, criminal justice social workers conduct individual, group, and family therapy in dealing with charges of crime. A variety of roles they serve in the field include victim advocacy, promoting alternatives to incarceration, and working with police departments to reduce chances of crime. They work in jails and prisons as the first to serve clients in therapy sessions. A body of knowledge and skills to effectively seek support for victims of crime.. Criminal justice is a practical area of work that consists of providing comfort for those convicted of crimes to cope with the consequences for their actions. The profession brings many challenges and opportunities for social workers to develop solutions of conflict in all levels. Let’s think about it this way...what if you attend the court hearing and the judge tells you there is a case for periodic prison sentences? If you are working with violent men, having empathy and compassion for victims is important in accomplishment of client-based intervention. Most social workers within the criminal justice system engage in contact with probation and parole officers and families about reports of criminal behavior. Part of the field involves a perspective in mitigating death penalty cases. Most importantly, a set of roles in practice with victims include leading a fight against racism, preparing victims to testify in court, and seeking prevention services to those with expressing thoughts of suicide. If you work in a defense team that is committee to support racial justice in local communities, you are probably aware that policy changes are needed to bring together civil rights and equity of all people.  A foundation for establishing group therapy techniques will enable you to incorporate positive reactions to the relationship between victims and their offenders. Some people with a social work license are employed in residential treatment centers and programs for juveniles who commit sexual offenses. In response to child abuse and neglect, they become part of an investigation process to protect children and adolescents from being physically or mentally assaulted by family members. The reports of intimate partner violence that they receive from police departments are representative of groups with similar situations. The couples who experience rape or any form of sexual offense require immediate attention and that social workers are needed to deal with these significant social problems. It can be a very stressful position, but if you enjoy clinical work it’s a good idea to consider working in a psychiatric setting that specializes dynamics of group conflict among victims of child and sexual abuse. It’s because you love doing psychotherapy with much of the focus on applying cognitive-behavioral techniques to improve personality and life satisfaction once a client recovers from mental illness. In order to gain experience with victim services, you may decide to volunteer in an emergency room or courthouse to learn about the history of clients’ lives. For example, when you are working with clients who are experiencing serious injuries caused by physical abuse, your job is to review victim records carefully and provide support available to remove harmful aspects of victimization. Social workers who serve in criminal justice must be educated and trained to develop interviewing skills to effectively communicate with different groups of people involved in crimes.

 

In my opinion, social work can be an excellent opportunity for those who enjoy being part of a helping process to solve problems in all levels. The field of practice I like best is the one that includes people with disabilities. I have learned from my experience with a social worker that if I needed support I was eligible for special education since I was six years old. It means my family and I faced your struggle for reasonable accommodations in place to ensure I had access to education. My social worker recommended to get me into an elementary school with better teachers who recognized my disability status and understand how best to help me become successful. It was more of a honor to have a social worker in the past because she did a good job helping me overcome the barriers and I felt grateful for the support I received in school. I also had the opportunity to participate in mainstream classes with special education services to assist my ability to learn. As a social worker I would do the same thing for the coming generation of children and adults with disabilities. I’m happy about the profession, and I’m hoping to accomplish my career goals when I enter the field.

Community Organizing and Advocacy for the Rights and Equality

 

The practice of community development is one area of social work that I thought about when considering a position to work with people who need services to lead productive lives.  Organizations are defined as formal networks that bring contributions to social movement. Each group has its own ideological approach in addressing ongoing issues that society plays. I spent the last couple of months studying the concept of community organizing that helped me understand the strategies in exchange for making a positive difference in the world. I chose the book “Stir It Up” because it provides a lot of evidence that supports the reasons why I want to serve in a social service agency. I’m cautiously optimistic about having the opportunity to hold a career in promoting justice and equality for all. My dream job would involve educating the public about making life better for people with disabilities and ensuring equal access to resources.

 

I watched the film documentary called Crip Camp about a group of activists with disabilities who fought for their civil rights and regulations to eliminate prejudice and discrimination. The point where disabled activists and protesters gathered on the streets of New York City are shown to overcome the obstacles in navigating around the community. The massive traffic and lack of access to subway stations made it even difficult for the group to get anywhere in the city. The 1970’s had an enormous impact on America and political involvement in the situation grew. They held peace signs with a handicap symbol on it to indicate being disabled doesn’t mean they should be forgotten. The federal legislation passed during the ‘70’s gave them the right to become educated and treated equally while allowing transportation and public places to be made accessible. Under Section 504, organizations were covered with the funding for adequate services related to transportation, independent living, and employment. If I were an activist, I strongly believe society must be aware that these people want to be protected against discrimination at all times. The film is a good example of how I will successfully advocate for more than just what happened in there. I hope to work in a wide range of settings to provide the support they need, such as the Center for Independent Living and the American Association for People with Disabilities. I have heard a lot about the National Federation for the Blind that offers classes and workforce training to help blind students learn the skills to become self-sufficient and that sounds like another great setting to make an impact.

 

As a community organizer, the first thing I want to work towards in running my business is to recruit and train certified members to be part of an advocacy organization. When I can find people to work for me, I hope to hire disability rights attorneys and specialists who have experience in law and other fields of practice with disabled communities. I will consider integrating leadership roles into my constituency and developing relationships with employees to help strengthen the network. I also hope to serve as a resource adviser for the Direct Action for the Rights and Equality program, make time to see my clients, and do policy work abroad. I may hold educational sessions and annual meetings to discuss the history of discrimination drawn by political actions that affect the availability of services and funding by the government. I see myself creating campaigns about making buildings and entertainment facilities accessible, allowing school districts to provide special education programs, and implementing budget plans for necessary services like adaptive technology and attendant care for those living alone. Another way to do this would include consulting with architectural workers to ensure they don’t discriminate against the handicapped while constructing new apartments and college campuses. There are places where individuals with disabilities still struggle for equal access to public education and participate in community-based activities which would need to be addressed as quickly as possible. I’m a strategic planner and it provides me with opportunities to learn what’s happening in the world before knowing what issues to take into account.   

 

My team should build partnerships with other agencies as a form of collaboration that matches my goals. It means the two or more organizations come together to make the cause. I want to be able to develop a framework to evaluate research capacity in order to apply knowledge of social issues I’m studying. As long as I follow the guidelines to meet ethical standards, my research methods would include interviewing service providers and parents of their children with disabilities to determine how many of them have been denied the right to be educated in mainstream institutions. I like the idea of doing case studies on groups of people in different locations who overcome their disability; I can use these techniques to identify the negative aspects of prejudice and discrimination and gather data on how these factors influence public opinion. Therefore, I’m comfortable with exploring solutions that people will benefit from.   The effort to operate an organization as a service provision is a challenging task. To be clear, the first step to begin the network is defining the purpose...a program with the strength to fight for the rights of handicapped individuals is my preferred purpose. Using strategic planning through collaboration with my colleagues can help them respond to situations that appear to produce barriers among minorities. I’d be eager to accept employees who understand racial justice for African Americans with disabilities.

I don’t know yet how and where I will work. But right now, I have an interest in policy social work since I’m a strong advocate for equality. No one has told me I shouldn’t do anything I want to do. Because being disabled doesn’t mean “sick” I am a big fan of Crip Camp and it made me proud of how successfully the characters achieved justice. This story represents hope and optimism that someday many people like me will get a good job, have a safe place to live, and become more and more socially active.

The movie Crip Camp is currently streaming on Netflix.

 

 

High Hopes for a Better 2021

 

While we’re still in the dark times of the pandemic, most of us are dreaming of returning to normal life this year. The world has changed dramatically with precautions in place to keep us safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19 and an outbreak. I feel isolated but am very lucky to have family to live with in exchange for social and emotional support. Because of RTD, I was expected to essentially quarantine every day with my family in our immediate household, meaning that I had to avoid putting my health at risk. I haven’t been able to go anywhere or visit my close friends and relatives for a long time. But I sometimes communicate with them online which helps me stay in touch with them. Zoom is a great place to connect with people from anywhere in the world and hold virtual events. For instance, an appointment I had in there with my old friend a few weeks ago went well as I was grateful for them. Another thing that happened was when I decided to try a Zoom dance party a couple times to see what it was like to be virtually active. The people I met online are nice, but the music made it difficult to talk to them while dancing. Communication is one of the major challenges I have faced due to deafness and low vision. In addition, the benefits I learned from my virtual experience include saving time and energy. I prefer in-person gatherings more, however this virus gets in the way that we know leads to an increase of cases. My grandmother stays away from the public and quarantines a lot, so she is able to be with me and my parents safely.

 

The coronavirus is a powerful “teacher” on the ways we interact with the real world that changed our social behavior. Humans evolve over time and science is key to making a difference in reality. New technologies are developing rapidly as a result of more time spent online. Most people don’t really like sitting in front of their screens for hours and somewhat struggle to have access to fast internet. Believe it or not, it’s okay to feel this way, because we all go through logistic challenges as part of life. Despite the COVID-related restrictions, schools and businesses are closed and we were required to isolate ourselves by doing stuff online at home. Therefore, the situation has been tough for everyone amid the pandemic, including myself, my family, and my home community. Maybe even the worst thing that has happened in my lifetime. So many people got infected with the virus, and hundreds of thousands have died from it since last March. Many are hospitalized, while others who test positive often have mild illnesses. The health crisis not only disrupted our lives but also played a huge impact on society as well as economic and environmental conditions. Millions lost their jobs and they had to rely on government help to receive unemployment benefits.

 

Everyone asked, “When will life return to normal like it was before the pandemic began?” Well, I think it will be a while. My best hope is that when vaccines become widely available to prevent COVID-19, the vast majority of the population would hopefully reach herd immunity by summer or fall. But I’m a little worried about the new coronavirus variants that may slow the progress against it. The two of them were originated in the United Kingdom and South Africa—-both are more contagious than the old version of COVID.

 

I got my first shot on February 2nd, and I’m waiting a few weeks for the second dose. I’m getting excited about returning to a pre-pandemic life. It probably won’t change for months, since only a small percentage of total population are already fully vaccinated. If everything improves over the first half of 2021, I am eager to go back to school and volunteer somewhere to get basic work experience, depending on what plays out.  Online learning and virtual gatherings are still vital to continue until we know how much protection vaccines provide in a large part of the population. I was going to visit my grandfather in Massachusetts by mid-June and see my friends again. I miss my close friends and family very much because of how much I care about them. That means we must follow the guidelines to avoid infection. No one I know has ever been positive for the virus. I would consider getting tested before I see my friends and family just to make sure I don’t carry and transmit it to others.

 

Nothing in life is risk-free for anyone right now, even when we’ve received the vaccine. I’m always careful about what I’m about to do safely like double-masking and social distancing. Pandemics take a long, long time to be completely under control. I know how sad it has been for everyone, especially when we are used to being social and chose to do what we wanted. We just need to hang on and listen to the experts about the steps we must take to stay healthy. Someday I hope to be able to get involved in the community and participate in real-world events again as soon as the pandemic nears end. Dear God, please allow light to come at the end of the tunnel. Leave the doors open for widespread vaccinations and make the days go calmer, offer hope, and let the nation do the best it can to make our lives better.

 

What is Inclusive Education?

Let’s take a look at what it means to be inclusively educated and the ways in which schools provide a common learning environment for children of all ability levels. When we think about inclusion, we know that many children with disabilities face significant barriers that should be removed by abolishing acts of stigma and discrimination among educators and peer groups. It includes ensuring all students with disabilities have equal access to a mainstream classroom with those without disabilities. All children must have quality education to meet their diverse needs. As we explore the key benefits of inclusive education, an attempt to understand the meaning of diversity and inclusion makes it easier to identify the advantages and disadvantages of students learning together.

 

Inclusive education is the process of welcoming special needs children into a regular classroom with the support of teachers. An inclusive environment is designed for all children to develop skills and a sense of belonging. If they do, they receive equal opportunities to learn, socialize with others, and participate in community life. For example, a special needs child may be invited to play with a small group of peers during recess because they are from the same classroom and were told that disability doesn’t mean being excluded. In an effort to meet educational goals towards academic progress, the school district must work together to ensure that teachers and school staff have the training, flexibility, and openness to adapt the strategy in teaching students with disabilities.  While inclusive education is costly in many jurisdictions, funds must be distributed sufficiently by the government that is accountable for providing adequate training as well as implementations to tackle barriers faced by exclusion.

 

The main goal of developing inclusive education is to collaborate with special and general educators and members of the school board to address the needs of students with disabilities. The involvement of parents and social workers in the process of monitoring a child’s engagement in school can improve teacher competencies to make learning accessible. As you can imagine, some children with disabilities require intensive special education and they often spend less time in a regular classroom. Research has shown that at least 93 million people worldwide live with a disability, with approximately 7.1 million in the United States who have received special education at ages 3-21. Most of all, every child deserves to be supported as they grow and develop unique abilities to succeed. However, not all public schools are welcoming to students of different abilities in mainstream education.  Making neighborhood schools inclusive is about full participation in all walks of school life.   According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), they have the right to receive free education and related services at school. Under this law, schools across the nation are required to provide special education to help kids meet the needs of academic progress. If children are eligible for special education services, they must report their disability that applies to a specific level of learning. Another option that parents have when their child is in need of access to services is called a section-504 plan, which is part of the Rehabilitation Act. Even with these laws in place, parents often find themselves in adversarial battles with educators to get their children the education they are entitled to by law. The energy that is spent pushing back against parental efforts to receive quality education for their children is a waste of valuable time and resources that could be put to better use formulating a plan for success for the child.

 

Once the IDEA took effect, it required all schools to have a plan in place for accommodations. In addition to inclusion, the school board must team up with administrators and architects to ensure proper construction of buildings, playgrounds, and walkways. The common learning environment is a diverse setting designed for all children of the same age to learn together while receiving instructional support and opportunities. They all attend school full-time every day and often have access to after-school activities and other social opportunities such as having lunch with friends in the cafeteria.

 

Part of the issue we acknowledge in adjusting to inclusive school communities is how the norms negatively affect educational rights of minority groups, not just children with disabilities. These include people of color, gender identity, immigration status, and poverty. There are policies that surge discrimination against marginalized groups which may lead to high levels of frustration and prevents them from receiving quality education. There is no reason to think creating an inclusive classroom is a bad thing. And it’s important to understand that inclusion refers to fairness and respect of our individual differences. The removal of children from the classroom regardless of their learning differences means it violates the educational policies resulting in a divided system. If they have already been excluded from schools and activities, steps should be taken to create an inclusive learning environment through communication with specialists and teachers to ensure that students have access to classroom practices.

 

 A better-quality education is necessary for all students to achieve the goals in learning and building close connections with peers. It’s often challenging for families to get their children the support they need, especially when the school system fails to provide appropriate services and programs a child is eligible for. Every school is required to consider the least restrictive environment for the child.  In some cases being placed outside a mainstream classroom is the least restrictive environment, For example, the Cedar Lane School is a public school located in Fulton, Maryland. It’s exclusively for students with severe multiple disabilities who don’t do well in mainstream school and may need more intensive supports than can be provided otherwise.

 

The most effective teaching strategies involve independent practice and tiered lessons that allow individual attention to occur in an inclusive manner. The goals of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) must be met to make learning flexible and appropriate for the student to be successful.

 

Parents and disability rights advocates are constantly fighting for quality education for children with disabilities. It would make more sense to add new policies that expand inclusion even though they don’t always work. We know that the IDEA continues to have a significant impact on the rights and protection of children and their families — it is there to say that the benefits of inclusiveness are legitimate in accordance with the law. However more work must be done to ensure that all students have access to a free and public education.

Approach to Social Work and Social Justice

 

    After taking a class on social work, I started thinking about it as a professional field that I see myself serving in the support system to enhance justice and equality for all. I care about all kinds of people who overcome life’s challenges for multiple reasons. I spent the first few years of college studying society and how individuals adapt to the world with social, behavioral, psychological, and cultural factors that impact human functioning. The coursework that provided me with scope and knowledge of social justice issues got me interested in pursuing a successful career in social work. While completing the course my participation in online discussions and group projects helped me develop collaborative skills related to professional practice with clients and populations to make a big difference in their lives. As a college student, the Social Sciences department has given me the opportunity to explore areas of study (such as sociology,  psychology, anthropology, personal and community health, and lifespan development) that increased my confidence about beginning the journey for a social work experience in the future.  Below is an academic essay I wrote during my final week of this semester which presents details on social welfare combination of roles equivalent to social work practice and intervention. It includes key concepts and approaches to justice emphasizing the need for equitable access to opportunities and resources in order for individuals to function normally.

 

History of Social Work and Social Welfare

 

Social work is a primary profession that works within a social welfare system. The term welfare means alleviating injustice that impacts a person’s quality of life and providing aid to populations in need. It has been one of the fastest-growing fields in the past and present. The field involves diverse roles that help meet the basic needs of life to enhance social well-being. The social welfare system provides a wide range of organized activities to shape human functioning and make the world a better place. Social workers who work with clients to address social problems engage in multiple roles focusing on planned change and process.  The areas of practice serve vulnerable groups of people on welfare to bring together opportunities and resources available for their needs to be met. Social work professionals advocate for welfare policies and changes to promote social justice that impact a person’s lifestyle. The types of social work and social welfare vary depending on the identification of justice issues and diversity of specific populations. Child welfare is one of the significant pieces of assistance provided to children, youth, and their families experiencing similar problems that include child abuse and neglect.

            In the early history of social welfare, the English heritage and the church demonstrated a powerful influence on the philosophy of welfare. Despite the economic hardships facing the Industrial Revolution, the English parliament passed the Elizabethan Poor Laws that required government to handle the poor.  The poor laws went into effect throughout the colonial times until the Social Security Act of 1936. Under the Poor Law the government raised taxes and regulated the funds to dependent children as perishes were established for unemployed and the helpless (Says, 2016). In 1601, many able-bodied residents were placed in indoor relief when identified as poor individuals with very little or no access to financial resources. In contrast, the government established outdoor relief as a form of welfare given to the poor in exchange for money, food, and shelter without being institutionalized. The settlement house movement consists of neighborhood services to immigrants and provides residence for the homeless who need a safe place to live. It became the first to combat poverty as a result of the Elizabethan Law. The support services to families and dependent children were created by charity organizations and assistance programs that are critical of scientific philanthropy as it comes to welfare. The Great Depression was the time when the federal government gained responsibility to implement social welfare policies following an economic recession and the rollout of the Poor Laws. The Social Security Act of 1936 is significant because it allowed state and local governments to distribute aid to the elderly and those who have a disability. It includes old-age pensions and monthly payments for those who are no longer working to earn a living (Britannica, 2019). This legislation ensures that income is completely secure and recipients who receive aid have access to social insurance and unemployment benefits. The system remained in the 1860’s that expanded programs to provide childcare and financial support to families with both parents working in low-paying jobs. The 1990’s marked “an end to welfare as we know it” since the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton to eliminate welfare while putting people to work for certain wages. The act replaced AFDC with TANF, a program that provides limited benefits over a 5-year period to single mothers and the working-poor who still work while relying on government assistance. The welfare reform has made it easier to find better employment to maximize the wages to provide care for their children.  It helped low-income recipients keep the wages affordable to become financially competent in the workforce. Therefore, these changes to welfare systems reduced the number of people receiving benefits.

 

Diversity and Social Justice Issues

 

The diversity of cultural backgrounds that face social and economic injustice include race and ethnicity, gender, age, social class, and persons with a disability. Social workers who serve in law enforcement agencies and criminal justice systems respond by ensuring all people have access to the same rights and privileges, with regards to equality and justice. The role that social justice plays on different types of people relies constantly on policies and programs to reduce discrimination and prejudice. As for people of color, evidence has shown that they are three times more likely to live in poverty than whites. Structural racism is the most widely existing form of injustice in the U.S where oppressed minorities struggle for racial equality. It is estimated that incidents still happen in the verge of racial discrimination, while law enforcement agencies are seeking to promote equal rights of all (Ambrasino, 2016). Those of color are less likely to receive education and quality healthcare than their counterparts. Many African American groups live in urban areas facing prejudice and discrimination because they are identified as individuals using drugs and alcohol, having lack access to medical care, and possibly those who receive prison sentences. The steps are taken by civil rights movements globally to ban segregation from institutions among all groups in society. People in rural areas experience economic injustice because of poverty and very few jobs being available. Not having health insurance is a result of discrimination and oppression. The social welfare system seeks to stand against discrimination through direct action, advocating for policies that promote equal treatment of all people. Social workers are advocates who believe everyone has the right to fully participate in society, no matter who we are and how our differences impact us.

            Disability is the largest group in the country with similar issues related to physical, cognitive, and emotional capacity. Ableism exists among individuals with disabilities who are unfairly treated by the able-bodied. They become socially isolated and are at risk for poorer health under the condition as well as those with mental illness. The injustice of both groups are linked to job loss and inadequate funding for support services. Social workers mainly work with oppressed individuals to improve the opportunity structure and help them lead productive lives. The primary goal of social justice involves creating a system of opportunities that shape capacity and well-being of all populations.

 

Social Work Practice: Methods of Intervention

 

            Social workers are role models that assist clients in strengthening human well-being. A key to success in professional practice includes applying knowledge of human behavior and methods of intervention to understand social justice among individuals, groups, communities, and organizations. The areas of practice take place in public and private settings. There are many sets of methods used in social work that guide interventions to alleviate injustice. An ecological/systems framework and theory is an important strategy applied in generalist practice that helps them deal with social welfare problems and interactions between client systems and the environment. A social worker may work with a family whose child has learning disabilities and needs help with school, and a parent addicted to alcohol. A systems perspective is necessary to look at the relationship between environmental factors and system levels (family and school). The curriculum guidelines suggest that analyzing the theories and methods of intervention is taught to help students deepen scientific knowledge of social problems by selecting appropriate approaches that incorporate a client’s situation (Freeman, 2013). The systems perspective would also help the social work practitioner understand child abuse and neglect. In addition to working with children and families, the ability to connect them with resources and programs that address related problems is an important factor of problem-solving approach. Generalist practitioners are typically knowledgeable of change that impact the functioning of all levels of society.   It enables them to understand the uniqueness of a client’s cultural world and empower the situation. Incorporating multiple perspectives allows them to engage in appropriate stages of a helping process while being aware of the strengths and limitations of a client or group. The process begins with defining the problem, so that a social worker pays special attention to a client’s needs. Then the goals for the client’s life must be identified before assessing his or her needs. The final stage includes evaluating solutions to the problem.  Social work practitioners develop positive relationships and strong communication skills to help clients cope with problems. With compassion and respect to their rights, helping them make life decisions on their behalf is critical in practice. They conduct interviews, assessments, and record information about a specific situation to achieve intervention.  Applying and analyzing research on intervention options is vital in exploring resources with individuals, groups, and organizations. When working in groups, social workers have the responsibility to establish leadership and purpose that is in their best interests. Effective interpersonal skills are needed to lead group work by helping members interact with one another and carry out a plan for termination to meet their needs.  Having friendly conversations with them is key. Social workers who work with child and family systems provide counseling and reality therapy to cope with stressors that affect them.  They may also facilitate planning for recreation activities among natural groups who are school-aged. Group work is a skill that many social workers need to understand how personal outcomes impact the other and come together the solutions to achieve the purpose and dignity.

 

Fields of Practice and Populations Served by Social Workers

 

The fields of practice cooperate with other helping professions. Generalist social workers are employed in direct practice settings that provide basic counseling and case management. While generalist practitioners have a bachelor’s degree in social work, specialist social workers go through advanced training and work in clinical settings with a master’s degree or higher. According to the Council of Social Work Education, specialization contributes to related areas like mental health, along with vocational rehabilitation and intensive counseling. The difference is that specialization can be done in private practice focusing on crisis intervention. Social workers usually work full-time in local health organizations, government agencies, hospitals, schools, and community outreach facilities. There are jobs in mental health and Human Resources that pay social workers the most, however some professions have a median salary that is insufficient enough to receive less wages over a timely record.

            Many social workers are committed to providing support to diverse groups in need. Individuals who work within a child welfare delivery system attempt to address issues that affect a child’s health and well-being (Ambrosino, 2016). Child welfare provide preventive care to keep kids safe in their homes and ensure that court orders are permissible. Parental education facilitates skill development to care for a dependent child.  The services to children and families also deal with substance abuse and child maltreatment. The practice with communities and social service agencies focuses on program planning and policy development in community organizations. They make sure that adequate funding is distributed to residents who are disabled and live in poverty. These include affordable and accessible housing, public transportation, health care, etc. Not all recipients have access to services, but many are still limited. For instance, in urban areas people have a lot more options to consider than those in rural areas. Service providers trained in cities have better knowledge and experience in engaging clients with resources. Medicaid programs operate by federal and state government to serve populations on welfare, with eligibility requirements to obtain benefits. The state and county departments of health/human services provide food assistance and volunteers to help communities that are vulnerable. A social worker may help clients qualify for SSI and CHIP whenever they need it. But they also work with government agencies to make policy changes as appropriate to the situation. The roles in administration and planning are officially successful in providing community support and establishing networks with organizations. The support given to individuals in need promotes justice and increased well-being of others. Social workers not only advocate their clients for change but also inform them of a wide range of programs that best meet their needs.

 

The Future of Social Work

Social work has continued to be a fast-growing field in the world. The new technologies will change the future of the profession due to digital development. The profession has evolved over time as globalization rises. The use of telecommunication has recently been integrated into the industry to prepare for the future of education and interactions with clients. Social workers that remain committed to enhance individual wellbeing are moving into multiple tasks to address the most complex needs of families, organizations, and communities. At this point they’re facing new challenges that make the profession more demanding. Economic inequality has increased with cuts to funding and growing numbers of the poor.  Social workers will still be needed to promote social and economic justice in the coming years of practice.

 

  The reason people choose to become social workers is because they want to help their clients address with issues that impact the attitudes toward their differences. I believe that a career in social work is a good choice for anyone interested in helping others. It’s also incredibly challenging because it sometimes puts them at risk of emotional disruption from incidents that would need to be addressed properly. Most workplaces have supervisors available to ensure all tasks are being done effectively and no conflicts are happening during client visits. It takes a long time to get licensed before qualifying for a social work job, so practitioners must often concentrate on their education and training to earn a degree or certification. Until they finish school, they should do volunteer work and internships to prepare for the workforce while continuing their studies. I am hoping to get into disability policy as a specialty with a bachelor’s degree in social work and do whatever I can to reduce discrimination against the disabled. The considerations for my top priorities would focus on advocating for the rights of people with disabilities to promote inclusion in able-bodied communities. The goal of this type of work is to improve the quality of life for individuals to direct their services. I have decided to work in an agency that implements protocols to ensure reasonable accommodations are made for education, employment, housing, eneuhment activities, and new construction. As a policy social worker I hope to have a team that will support my local  authorities to act as an advocate for those who overcome discrimination and need assistance to cope with problems.  It’s going to be an exciting experience for me, and I’d try my best to take as many risks as possible to build a successful future.

 

 

References

Ambrosino, R. (2016). Social work and social welfare: An introduction. Australia: Cengage Learning.

Betts, J. (n.d.). Examples of Social Justice Issues Facing the World. Retrieved December 05, 2020, from https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-social-justice-issues-facing-the-world.html

Britannica, E. (2019, December 11). Social Security Act. Retrieved December 05, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Social-Security-Act-United-States-1935

Children, Youth and Family Services. (n.d.). Retrieved December 04, 2020, from https://dbh.dc.gov/service/children-youth-and-family-services

Freeman, E. (2013, June 11). Methods of Practice Interventions. Retrieved December 09, 2020, from https://oxfordre.com/socialwork/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-247

The Future of Social Work. (2017, August 28). Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://upcea.edu/the-future-of-social-work/

Koski, J. A. (2002). Substance Abuse Intervention, Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Systems Change Strategies. Helping Individuals, Families, and Groups to Empower Themselves (Book). Addiction, 97(6), 764–765. https://doi-org.libproxy.howardcc.edu/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.t01-4-00181.

Poverty | Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia says:, Says:, J., Says:, T., Says:, V., Says:, D., & *, N. (2016, December 01). English Poor Laws. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/poor-laws/