Social work field education: believing in supervisors who are living with disabilities

Abstract

Much of what is written by non-disabled authors about living with disabilities does not mirror people’s experiences or opportunities. Literature is often written about people’s abilities (or disabilities) rather than by or with people. Discourse about supervision of social work students can risk assuming that supervisors are people who do not identify as living with disabilities. This research is a co-operative inquiry into the experience of being an Australian social work student supervisor who is living with disabilities. The article extends the literature about being a social work field educator to include ability, and values the practice wisdom of experienced social workers including a current student supervisor who is living with a disability.

Keywords:

• practice education
• social work education
• disabled professionals
• disabled practitioners
• co-operative inquiry
• supervision

Acknowledgment

The authors warmly thank Janice Ollerton for her thoughtful support, proof-reading of this article and advice. Her assistance is much appreciated and we look forward to working with Janice in 2015.