National Association of Social Workers

Children With Disabilities: A Family Affair

Working With Families Is a 'Dance of Partnership'

Parents and siblings must be considered as part of the process of adjusting to disabilities.

By Lyn Stoesen, News Staff

Illustration: John Michael Yanson

At the time Janice Fialka's son Micah was born in 1984, she had been a practicing social worker for years. With positions in the field of adolescent health, Fialka had helped many young people learn about available health and family planning services and worked to provide education and support.

But after Micah was born, Fialka had to take on a different role. "Eventually we learned he had some special challenges or disabilities," she explained. As she began to navigate systems to obtain services for Micah, who is developmentally disabled, Fialka suddenly experienced the other side of receiving services.

"I had been a practicing social worker. . . . What I was struck by was that I was in a waiting room where I had taken teen moms, and there I was, sitting as a client," Fialka recalled. "I was quite humbled and very aware that I did not choose to be there. When I was the social worker, I made a conscious choice. However, when you're the parent, especially in the early years or during transition — when it's not your choice — you're not so eager to join into this dance."

Approaching this realm from the "other side" gave Fialka a new understanding of how families and professionals work together to help children with disabilities.

Focusing on families. Social workers who work with children with any kind of disability agree that the most important element of this practice is recognizing the whole family unit as a client.

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From March 2005 NASW News. © 2005 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising, promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.