Everyday life and disability as themes of discretion in social work with people with disabilities

Authors

• Merja Tarvainen Itä-Suomen yliopisto

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30668/janus.125824

Abstract

This study investigates discretion in social work with people with disabilities (PWDs) from the disabled people’s perspective. The research question was as follows: What do PWDs consider as main themes regarding discretion of social work with PWDs? Theoretical underpinnings of the study were drawn on theorization of everyday life and disability in relation to discretion in social work as public welfare work. By following to the existing body of knowledge, discretion was understood as a means of turning troubles of everyday life into problems in public welfare service system.

The methodological basis of the study was the model of narrative circulation (MNC). The data comprised service users’ writings about discretion (N=36) and were analysed through thematic narrative analysis. The main themes were everyday life, especially home-related issues as well as sense-making of disability. Savviness on disability narratives, which encompasses knowledge about to material and discursive conditions of living with disability, may forward social work with PWDs and discretion within.

Key words: social work, disability, everyday life, disability policy, public welfare service system