• Advocacy in social work is a basic skill which help social workers in their community work

especially those with individuals with disabilities.Individuals with disabilities are not
usually considered full members of the community and their voices are lowered
down.This is where the social worker need to bring forward the skill and advocacy and
stand up representing the people with disabilities.Dr Thompson(2015) argues that
advocacy is an important skill for social workers as it allows them to empower
clients ,promote social justice and bring about positive change in society.In order to bring
about this change , the social worker needs to learn and understand their way of doing
things and help them .This skill of advocacy can also can be used to bring change to the
community by advocating for policy changes ,accommodation and inclusive practices that
benefit those with disabilities.In Zimbabwe many government schools and private schools
have not realised the importance of buildings that promote people with disability.At St
Antony high in Zaka it took advocacy by social worker for them to accept a child with
disability and do all the necessary measures to accommodate him.Advocacy when
working with communities can also help to challenge discrimination or stigma and
promote inclusion and equality. As they stand on the behalf of the individuals with
disability , this brings about change of perception by the policy makers or community.This
will also make the community be more considerate of the people with disabilities thus
giving them confidence to the people living with disabilities to stand on their own and say
what they want.
[3/10, 18:58] Bee: Maurer, E. (2018). Assistive technology
for people with physical disabilities. In A. J. Linkins, D.
Rothman, & A. J. Shlonsky (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social
work, 28th ed. (pp. 552-558). Washington, DC: NASW Press.
Kemp, S. (2013). A social work approach to collaboration.
Journal of Social Work Practice, 27(2), 189-205.
Munn-Giddings, J. (2008). The importance of collaboration
in social work. Social Work Today, 8(2).
• [3/10, 23:15] +263 71 904 2894: Thompson, N. (2015).
Advocacy in Social Work. New York: Oxford University
Press
• Collaboration is a vital social work skill that supports individuals with physical
disabilities in different communities. It entails the act of working collectively with
various stakeholders to accomplish shared objectives.Collaboration is a vital social
work skill that supports individuals with physical disabilities in different
communities .Social workers collaborate with healthcare professionals to develop
comprehensive care plans that address medical, rehabilitative, and psychosocial
needs. They also partner with local disability organizations and advocacy groups to
identify available resources and help individuals access essential supports like
assistive technology and accessible housing. They also collaborate with educators,
social workers create tailored education plans for children with disabilities, ensuring
academic and social inclusion. Working with assistive technology specialists, they
assess needs and acquire appropriate devices to enhance independence. Social
workers also collaborate with disability rights organizations and policymakers to
advocate for inclusive policies. By involving families in decision-making and
connecting them with support groups, social workers strengthen the support
network. Through collaboration, social workers ensure a comprehensive and
coordinated approach, maximize resources, and create a more inclusive
environment for individuals with physical disabilities in the community.
[3/10, 16:58] 😊: According to O'Hagan 1996:13 skills refers to knowledge in combination with
ability ,cleverness,expertise, knowledge or understanding of something
[3/10, 17:04] 😊: Skills refers to the degree of knowledge , expertise, judgment and experience that is
brought to play with a given situation ,course of action or intervention(Watson ,D.and West,J.2003)
[3/10, 17:11] 😊: Community work *
• Popple 1995 A wide-ranging set of
•
• practices designed to improve
•
• the quality of life for individuals
•
• within designated areas,
•
• geographical localities and
•
• communities.’
Nomsa’s point

Counseling and emotional support are crucial skills than social workers empoly to a community. According
to American' Counseling Association (2021) counseling is a professional relationship that empowers
individuals to explore and resolve personal challenges, achieve personal and improve well being.
Emotional support involves providing
comfort, understanding individuals experiencing emotional distress or challenging life circumstances.
Social Workers provide emotional support to individuals with physical disabilities helping them to cope
with
the emotional challenges that may arise from their condition. They offer a safe space for individuals to
express their feelings, address self-esteem and develop strategies as
to manage stress and anxiety. For example a social worker can conduct individual counseling sessions with
a person who recenty acquired a physical disability due to an accident. Thus a social worker can provide
emotional support to address the person’s fears and concerns and help them develop resilience and
adaptive coping mechanisms to
navigate their new reality. Hence social workers use there skill to promote self acceptance by helping
individuals to recognize, and appreciate their unique strengths, abilities and qualities beyond their Physical
limitations. They work with individuals
• to challenge negative self-perceptions and develop positive self image.