From knowledge to action: Integrating disability justice into inter-professional social work education

Presenter(s)

SF

Sophia Fantus, PhD, MSW, HEC-C

Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Arlington
DH

Darlene Hunter, PhD, LMSW, MPH (she/her/hers)

Director of Undergraduate Programs
The University of Texas at Arlington

Contributor(s)

Chenyu Zhao, MSW

Social Work PhD Student
The University of Texas at Arlington

We will assess the development and post-survey results of a disability-focused interprofessional education (IPE) course to examine social work students’ self-awareness, knowledge, and behavior in working with disabled communities. Lessons learned will inform concrete recommendations to ethically infuse disability terminology and lived experience narratives across social work curricula.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:

Describe the principles of disability ethics and interdisciplinary practice frameworks as they relate to higher education inclusion: discuss how these frameworks support accessible learning environments and improve outcomes for students.
Identify common barriers to disability inclusion in universities: Examine structural, social, and institutional challenges that limit accessibility in higher education, including the dominance of the medical model, lack of disability representation, inaccessible curricula, and limited interdisciplinary collaboration.
Apply concepts from the disability IPE course to develop strategies for improving disability inclusion in social work education: consider practical actions such as incorporating disabled voices and promoting active engagement with disability communities to create a more equitable educational experience.