Children with disabilities in Swedish child welfare – a differentiating and disabling practice

ABSTRACT

Research shows that children with disabilities are victims of violence and abuse to a higher extent than other children and thus need support from social services. In Sweden, cooperation between two different social services units is required to support children with disabilities in socially vulnerable families. In this study, we have examined the intersection between children and disability in a Swedish social services context from the perspective of childhood studies and disability studies. The reasoning of the two units including the child perspective emerged during focus group interviews based on two vignettes. The results show two different rationalities, which has consequences for the disabled child. In spite of a social policy where the ‘best interests of the child’ are meant to prevail and disabilities are meant to be interpreted as barriers in society, children with disabilities seem to be reduced to individuals who are lacking in ability and competency and who are profoundly victimised by power structures that favour the adult perspective in social services.

ABSTRAKT

Forskning visar att barn med funktionsnedsättning drabbas av våld och övergrepp i högre omfattning än andra barn. Dessa barn är således i behov av stöd från socialtjänsten. I Sverige krävs samverkan mellan två olika enheter inom socialtjänsten för att stötta barn med funktionsnedsättning i socialt utsatta familjer eftersom stöd på grund av funktionsnedsättning handläggs av en enhet och våld och utsatthet av en annan. I denna studie har vi undersökt intersektionen mellan barn och funktionshinder i ett svenskt socialtjänstsammanhang utifrån ett childhood- och disabilitystudiesperspektiv. Genom fokusgruppsintervjuer utifrån två vinjetter granskas de två olika enheternas sätt att argumentera och hur barnperspektivet framträder. Resultaten visar att två olika rationaliteter skapas och upprättshålls vilket medför konsekvenser för barn med funktionsnedsättning. Trots en socialpolitik där barn ska betraktas som aktörer, ‘barnets bästa’ ska råda och funktionshinder ska tolkas som hinder i samhället tycks barn med funktionsnedsättning reduceras till passiva individer utan förmågor och färdigheter som drabbas hårt av maktordningar som gynnar vuxenperspektivet inom socialtjänsten.

KEYWORDS:

• Child welfare
• disability
• risk
• participation

HUVUDORD:

• social barnavård
• funktionshinder
• bedömningar
• delaktighet

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Kristina Engwall, associate professor in history, is director and research leader at FoU Södertörn. Her research focusses mainly on disability studies including child and family perspectives.

Francesca Östberg, PhD in social work, is a senior lecturer and researcher at Stockholm University, in the Department of Social Work. Her research and teaching include child welfare, assessment in child protection and social work organisation.

Gunnel Andersson, PhD in social work, Stockholm University, now active as a researcher at FoU Södertörn, a research and development unit ran by 10 municipalities in the area of southern Stockholm. Her main research field concerns persons with psychiatric disabilities, everyday life and related issues of social support.

Tomas Bons, MA in education, has a position as research assistant at FoU Södertörn. He is working on issues concerning family, youth and social networks.

Åsa Bringlöv, BA in ethnology, has a position as research assistant at FoU Södertörn. She focusses on cooperation and evaluation.