Problems Facing Disabled People in Malawi
A Critical Reflection on My Encounter with a Disabled Woman in a Rural Area in Malawi
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v9i1.111Abstract
This critical reflection is based on my encounter with a disabled woman in a district in Malawi, and how I have reflected and analyzed the encounter using social work theories. The essay reflects on the story of the disabled woman and my own perception at that time, in addition to my analysis of these perceptions using different perspectives in social work based on my current understanding of these perspectives. In line with Fook’s (2002; 68) critical reflection techniques, social work theories will be applied to deconstruct and reconstruct the critical incident. The essay highlights the challenges and dilemmas I encountered in attempting to make meaning out of this encounter, which left me helpless and powerless, as I could not offer her any sustainable help at the time.
References
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Barnes, C. (1996). Institutional Discrimination against Disabled People and the Campaign For Anti-discrimination Legislation. London. Sage Publications.
Borden, W. (2000). The relational paradigm in contemporary psychoanalysis: Towards a Psycho-dynamically informed social work perspective. The Social Service Review 74(3) 352-379.
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Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma Englewood Cliffs, New York. Prentice Hall, (In Compendium).
Goffman, E. (1991). Asylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and other Inmates. Harmondsworth, Penguin.
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Ministry of Social Development and Persons with Disability (2006). National Policy On Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, Republic of Malawi, Lilongwe. Government Print.
NSO Malawi (2010). 2010 Population and Housing Census Report. NSO publications Zomba.
Payne, M. (2005). Modern Social Work Theory 3rd Ed. Basingstoke. Palgrave McMillan.
Stein, H. D. (2003). Social Science and Social Work Education, In N. Aronoff (Ed.), Challenge and Change In Social Work Education: Towards A World View, Selected Papers by Herman D. Stein. Virginia: pp. 101-118.
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Weick, A. C., Rapp, P., Sullivan, W. P., & Kisthardt, W. (1989). A Strength Perspective for Social Work Practice, Social Work, 350-54.
Bartlett, H. (1970). The Common Base of Social Work Practice. Washington. National Association of Social Workers.
Barnes, C. (1996). Institutional Discrimination against Disabled People and the Campaign For Anti-discrimination Legislation. London. Sage Publications.
Borden, W. (2000). The relational paradigm in contemporary psychoanalysis: Towards a Psycho-dynamically informed social work perspective. The Social Service Review 74(3) 352-379.
Cree, V. (2000). Sociology for Social Workers and Probation Officers. London. Routledge.
Darlymple, J., & Burke, B. (1995). Anti-oppressive Practice: Social Care and the Law. Buckingham. Open University Press.
Eide, E., & Loeb, M. (Eds.) (2004) Living Conditions among People with Activity Limitations in Malawi: A National Representative Survey, SINTEF. Oslo.
FEDOMA (2004). Memorandum prepared by the Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi for the Constitution of Malawi Review Commission, Blantyre. Malawi.
Fook, J. (2002). Social Work Critical Theory and Practice. London. Sage Publications.
Germain, C., & Gitterman, A. (1996). The Life Model of Social Work Practice: Advances In Theory and Practice. 2nd Ed., New York. Columbia University Press.
Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma Englewood Cliffs, New York. Prentice Hall, (In Compendium).
Goffman, E. (1991). Asylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and other Inmates. Harmondsworth, Penguin.
Healy, K. (2005). Social Work Theories in Context. Basingstoke. Palgrave McMillan.
Howe, D. (2009). A Brief Introduction to Social Work Theory. Basingstoke. Palgrave McMillan. MailOnline (2012).
Mattaini, M., & Meyer, C. (2002). The Eco System Perspective: Implications For Practice. Washington DC. National Association of Social Workers Press, pp. 3-24.
Ministry of Social Development and Persons with Disability (2006). National Policy On Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, Republic of Malawi, Lilongwe. Government Print.
NSO Malawi (2010). 2010 Population and Housing Census Report. NSO publications Zomba.
Payne, M. (2005). Modern Social Work Theory 3rd Ed. Basingstoke. Palgrave McMillan.
Stein, H. D. (2003). Social Science and Social Work Education, In N. Aronoff (Ed.), Challenge and Change In Social Work Education: Towards A World View, Selected Papers by Herman D. Stein. Virginia: pp. 101-118.
The Voice of America (2007). voa48.html 27-02-2012.
Weick, A. C., Rapp, P., Sullivan, W. P., & Kisthardt, W. (1989). A Strength Perspective for Social Work Practice, Social Work, 350-54.
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Published
2014-04-01
How to Cite
Tembo, M. J. (2014). Problems Facing Disabled People in Malawi: A Critical Reflection on My Encounter with a Disabled Woman in a Rural Area in Malawi. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 9(1), 93–108. https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v9i1.111
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Essays