Are perceptions of disability changed by involving service users and carers in qualifying health and social work training?

Abstract

This article reports the findings of two small-scale qualitative studies at an English university which engaged service users and carers (SUACs) as researchers in co-production with an academic researcher. Findings were that SUAC participants reported considerable levels of self-transformation via involvement in training health and social work professionals. Students reported heightened empathy and having had their perceptions about disability challenged. Further research regarding whether any learned values and attitudes regarding disability are carried through to the world of practice is recommended.

Keywords:

• Co-production
• qualifying training
• service user and carer involvement
• perceptions of disability
• transformation