nce.
There has been a greater recognition of the rights of people with disabilities and their rightful inclusion in society and community. However, social exclusion still exists on many levels often implicitly in social attitudes and values. Social inclusion has become a major international agenda and this must incorporate the input and participation of persons with disability of all ages and all world communities.
Social workers are strategically positioned to develop, implement, and advocate for policies, programmes, services, and research that support and benefit persons with a disability. Acknowledging that people with disability comprise a significant proportion of the world’s population, IFSW encourages the consideration of people with disabilities in all of its policies. IFSW also supports the following policy principles that promote the inclusion of all people with disabilities in all societies and communities.
- IFSW endorses the CRPD and encourages all countries to sign the convention and the optional protocol
- IFSW stresses and affirms the core commitment of the social work profession to human rights for people with disabilities including the elimination of physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse, exploitation, and neglect,
- IFSW supports the full participation of people with disabilities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of disability programmes, policies, and research.
- IFSW supports the self determination of people with disabilities in all aspects of their lives
- IFSW will work to promote the full inclusion of all people with disabilities, including people with physical, psychological, and cognitive disabilities, in all aspects of society including education, paid employment, community living, political participation, as well as cultural, and social activities.
- IFSW will work to ensure that people with disability receive proper health and mental health care, primary and acute care, including effective medications and sexual health care; rehabilitative services and assistive technology; psychotherapy and substance abuse treatment; palliative and hospice care
- IFSW supports the introduction, preservation, and strengthening of a range of public, private, and commercial income security schemes that safeguard adequate income to meet needs of people with disabilities especially women.
- IFSW recognised the need to promote and expand disability education and training for all social workers and other health, mental health, and service providers.
- IFSW strongly supports the full participation of persons with disability in the profession, in social work education, social policy and social agencies.
- IFSW affirms that education of social workers should equip them to work alongside people with disability, families and the environment. Social workers should have the skills to recognize that every disabled person has her/ his own individuality and has the freedom to make their own choice. – practice, policy, research, and advocacy.
- Braithwaite, J, Carroll, R., Mont, D. & Peffley, K. (2008). Disability & Development in the World Bank: FY2000–2007 SP Discussion Paper 0808. World Bank Publication.
- Hoogeveen, J. (2005).Measuring Welfare for Small but Vulnerable Groups: Poverty and Disability in Uganda. Journal of African Economies, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp.603-631.
- Yeo, R. and K. Moore. (2003). “Including Disabled People in Poverty Reduction Work: Nothing About Us, Without Us,” World Development, Vol. 31, No. 3 pp.571-590, 2003.
- Pandey, Manoj K. (2009): Poverty and disability among Indian elderly: evidence from household survey. Unpublished report.