Title of Work
Equity in social work employment: Opportunity and challenges for social workers with disabilities in the United States
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
January 2019
Volume
34
Issue
9-10
DOI
10.1080/09687599.2018.1561354
Abstract
People with disabilities (PWDs) in the United States have had extremely low levels of employment for decades, and the employment rate of PWDs remains virtually unchanged despite efforts to improve employment participation. This qualitative inquiry explored barriers and opportunities related to employment for social workers with disabilities through understanding their experiences of seeking, obtaining, and maintaining social work employment. Five themes emerged: disability makes me a better social worker, anticipation and experience of hiring discrimination, accommodation confusion, disappointment with the social work profession, and this could be different (and better). Findings suggest implications for employers and the social work profession.
Recommended Citation
Kiesel, Lisa; DeZelar, Sharyn; and Lightfoot, Elizabeth, "Equity in social work employment: Opportunity and challenges for social workers with disabilities in the United States" (2019). Social Work Faculty Scholarship. 21.
https://sophia.stkate.edu/socialwork_fac/21