Developmental Disabilities and Opportunities for Social Work Careers
by Lisa Eible, DSW, MSW, LCSW
March is both Social Work Month and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It is appropriate to mark March with a discussion about the intersection of social work practice and the field of developmental disabilities.
I recently entered the world of developmental disabilities practice and administration, and I am stunned that this area of work was never presented to me in any level of my education. I have not been fully aware of this area of work in my 30 years of professional practice. Like most social workers, I encountered, through the years, individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. I hope I have served these clients and their families well, but I’m sure that I did not fully access the resources and opportunities available to clients through community and government services. Further, as adjunct faculty at a university, I am now aware that I have not highlighted opportunities for students and social workers in the developmental disabilities sphere as clearly as I could have.
There is an entire network of practice and services designed to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. This complicated web provides support to those living in a variety of settings, including individuals living alone, with families, in supervised apartment settings, in group homes, in developmental centers, and in many more settings. Following the high profile institutional disasters of Willowbrook and other institutional settings, the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court case Olmstead vs. L.C. determined that the segregation of individuals with disabilities in institutions was unlawful discrimination. The interpretation of this case is that individuals who have developmental disabilities must be supported to live in the least restrictive setting possible, and they have the right to live and work in the community, just as those without disabilities.
The field of developmental disabilities is an ideal training ground for social workers. There are opportunities to do hands-on client work, planning work, administrative work, and leadership work, all while remaining client-focused. Social work students can gain experience in group homes, developmental centers, in family homes, and in client apartments managing health and social needs. Social workers with a bachelor’s degree can be hired as a “support coordinator” in many states. A support coordinator is a social work-type role that works with clients and families to determine and manage service needs. Social workers with master’s degrees are well-qualified to handle a myriad of roles in the developmental disabilities world - from supervision of staff, to leadership at the state level, to running an agency that directly provides services, to becoming involved with advocacy efforts, to involvement with data and quality measurement.
A career path in developmental disabilities may never have been considered by those in social work, and it is often overlooked by the universities and faculty that provide social work education. There are misperceptions about working in developmental disabilities, including ideas related to safety, that all jobs require hands-on personal care, or incorrect assumptions about a lack of a career path.
When entering social work practice, there are many factors to consider. One is passion for the client population served. Social workers should also consider the general skills to be acquired in working with clients and families in general that can be areas of practice interest, such as working cross-culturally, family work, assessment skills, working with difference, and so on. Emerging social workers should consider the interests and skill sets that they bring to social work, and how that may be matched to a variety of work domains, including administrative and leadership roles. Finally, working in developmental disabilities might force us to address our own bias and discomfort when working with people who may be different from us intellectually or physically.
Developmental disabilities work offers a wide array of opportunities for social work practitioners, administrators, advocates, and leaders. This field offers excellent opportunities for social work students and practitioners to make significant impact on the lives of clients, families, and service systems.
Lisa Eible, DSW, MSW, LCSW, is a consultant, writer, and educator with more than 28 years of social work experience. Lisa has advanced certificates in cultural competence and trauma. Professional interests include social work in healthcare, administration, leadership, supervision, Relational-Cultural Theory, and diversity issues. Lisa works in the field of developmental disabilities and serves as adjunct faculty at two universities.