Competent social work practice asks that we become knowledgeable in various areas: practice theory and methods, policy, diversity, human development, and research. It also demands that we become as familiar as possible with the situations, concerns, conditions, beliefs, cultures, and family and social networks of the people we work with. Although the knowledge we acquire is often quite concrete and specific, it is essential to recognize that this is still general. Clients may not have the conditions, emotional reactions, or experiences usually found when exploring the group.
It is important, therefore, to approach clients with knowledge but also with an openness to the specific conditions and details and perceptions of life experiences that are unique to him/her. If we assume that clients feel a certain way or will react a certain way to events, we make at least two very important errors. We make errors in assessment and in developing a plan for change. We also undermine the reality of clients' experiences and undermine ego strengths, self-esteem, and self-determination.
Another assumption social workers often make in working with disabled clients is that the disability itself is, or should be, the focus of the work. Clients come for services for many reasons, such as difficulties with a child, marital discord, social isolation, loss of a loved one, or fear of taking exams. When a client with a disability asks for help, their perceptions and concerns should be the focus of the work. If in the course of exploring and addressing the problem, the social worker finds that the disabling condition is a part of the difficulty, it can be included in the discourse.
