Author: admin

 
Respond to two colleagues:
Share an insight gained from reading their post.
Ask a probing question that will help you gain a deeper understanding of their response.
provide APA citations and a reference list.
1 IK- 
In the Voices of Diversity video, it became evident that perspectives and experiences regarding ability and disability differ among individuals. Dr. Tammy Frye and Dr. Gina Bowlin shed light on the discomfort and challenges associated with discussing and understanding ability and disability. They emphasize that from a young age, individuals are often taught to avert their gaze or ignore people with disabilities, resulting in feelings of invisibility and marginalization for individuals with disabilities. I had such an experience growing up and was told to avoid disabled people especially those in wheelchairs, I was told that they get angry when stared at and to not stare at the blind when I see them which gives a rude vibe.  Dr. Frye shares her personal experience of acquiring a disability and feeling dismissed and in need of assistance, but people around her were not comfortable offering help. Dr. Bowlin adds that embracing and understanding differences can be difficult for many, but professionals in helping fields like social work may be more inclined to bridge the gap and support individuals with disabilities. Both speakers acknowledge the progress made in terms of providing accommodations and visibility for individuals with disabilities but acknowledge that there is still much work to be done (Walden University, LLC, 2021).
Huang et al.’s scholarly resource on “Measuring Implicit Biases About Disability: A Scoping Review” is an article I read that explores deeper into topics of ability and disability. This article explores the notion of unconscious prejudices against disability and analyses available techniques for assessing these biases. The authors emphasize that individuals’ unconscious attitudes and beliefs have a substantial influence on how they view and interact with persons with disabilities. They contend that addressing and understanding these unconscious prejudices is critical to fostering diversity and eliminating discrimination. The article addresses the many measures used, such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and Priming Tasks, and advocates for greater study into developing more complete tools for detecting implicit biases connected to disability.
The scoping review findings directly impact social work practice and are consistent with the ethical standards established in the NASW Code of Ethics (2021). As advocates for social justice, social workers address structural challenges such as disability discrimination. Dr. Frye’s emphasis on open communications is consistent with social workers’ dedication to knowing their clients’ abilities and impairments. Understanding hidden biases is essential for social workers to deliver fair and client-centered care. Dr. Bowlin’s appeal for education and cultural competency is consistent with social workers’ continual commitment to educating themselves on the various needs and obstacles that people with different abilities experience.
2 LA- 
Analyze what you learned from the Voices of Diversity video regarding perspectives and experiences related to ability and disability. 
Overall, I enjoyed the Voices of Diversity very regarding perspectives and experiences related to ability and disability. Dr. Tami Fye discusses how from a young age people avoid looking at those with disabilities. She discusses how avoidance stems from discomfort that has been ingrained in people leading to a sense of indivisible for those with disabilities. Dr. Bowlin made a good point in her view on how many accommodations for disabilities are designed by those who are able-bodied. Both Dr. Fye and Dr Bowlin emphasize that cultural competence in addressing ability and disability is not a choice but critical in the social work field. As social workers we should be knowledgeable and well trained when working with all individuals.  
Then, summarize your findings from at least one professional or scholarly resource focusing on themes of ability and disability. 
The article I read was Making Disability Visible in Social Work Education by Kim, JaeRan Sellmaier, Claudia. The article discusses the role of social work education and how it relates to working with individuals with disabilities. In addition, the article discusses theoretical frameworks that can help social work programs make disability intentionally planning and teaching students across a spectrum of abilities (Kim, 2020). Considering that I have not worked with individuals with disabilities I felt this article was important to read. In order for social work programs to respond thoughtfully and fully to the spectrum of all students of all abilities we should be looking to “invite disability in the front door” by proactively creating a non-disabling program, rather than reacting to disability on an individual basis (Kim, 2020). In the article it also discussed how within the social work program it should be relatable to those with disabilities. As a former teacher I enjoyed reading this because in the school system many of curriculums aren’t appropriate for all individuals in the classroom.  
How do your findings apply to social work practice with clients with varying abilities? 
I believe that my findings apply to social work practice because as social workers we need to use practices that consider the diverse abilities of clients. The emphasis on advocacy in the article connects with the social work profession’s goal to promoting social justice. Social workers should actively advocate for the rights and needs of clients with disabilities, ensuring they have equal access to resources, opportunities, and services. Empowering clients to self-advocate and promoting their self-determination becomes essential.