'Making the Invisible Visible' in Practice and Education

Challenging social constructions, barriers and blockages to social inclusion, social cohesion, social justice, diversity and human rights is essential social work. This paper will present a combined industry and academia research initiative undertaken by three social workers. It is an auto-ethnographic exploration into society’s norms about deserving or undeserving – using the example of hidden disability. The purpose of the research is to question the current societal perceptions of disability and to focus on the constructs of 'you must see a disability to have it' or 'I walk and talk therefore I must be OK'. Such challenges need to be underpinned by evidence based arguments, critical thinking and theoretically informed practice. With reference to the authors’ experiences, this presentation considers how society acknowledges and responds to diagnosed hidden disabilities. The authors will share insights on how we might advance beyond reflecting on social justice and social inclusion, by inviting educators, practitioners and others to question and change perceptions of hidden disability within all social welfare environments.