School of Social Work Calendar

While the field of social work has always been rooted in human rights, it has historically lacked a comprehensive recognition of disability as a complex identity influenced by overlapping social, political, and oppressive forces.

This continuing education course will provide an overview of ableism through an intersectional lens, exploring how it manifests on an individual and a systemic level. Participants will learn to identify the different types of ableism and their impact on the development of U.S. social policy and the collective mental health of the estimated 1 in 4 Americans with disabilities.

Our interactive presentation will offer practical tips for responding to ableist microaggressions and equip participants with strategies to advance the principles of disability justice in various areas of social work practice including curriculum and program design, policy development, and legislative advocacy. With new skills to understand the disability experience beyond paternalism and stereotypes, they will be empowered to imagine and build an actively anti-ableist future for social work clients, colleagues, and society at large.