Re-writing the “rules of engagement”: Using critical reflection to examine ableist social work practice

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Fox, J. (2021). Re-writing the “rules of engagement”: Using critical reflection to examine ableist social work practice. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol33iss1id822

Journal or book title
Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work
Publisher
University of Otago Library
Volume
33
Issue
1
Publication date: 2 May 2021 Added to AutiHub: 27 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

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1
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 1 (100.0%)
  1. Jessica Fox *

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Normative beliefs and practices reaffirm a hegemonic construction of human ability that legitimises the socio-cultural status quo. This disenfranchises people with diverse abilities who are excluded from this construction whilst simultaneously normalising the structural inequality and oppression that they experience. Helping professions such as social work often provide support to people who are disadvantaged by these social structures. However, practitioners within these fields are not immune to the influence of socio-cultural norms, therefore it is essential for them to reflect on the ways in which they might reproduce them within their practice.APPROACH: This article outlines my experience of using critical reflection as a research methodology to examine an incident from my practice. Deconstruction and reconstruction methods were used to analyse the normative assumptions within my construction of this incident.REFLECTIONS: The deconstruction analysis revealed how assumptions about impairment within my account of the incident were underpinned by ableist discourses. Reconstructing this through a neurodiversity lens enabled me to generate new insights around the anti-oppressive potential for using a pluralistic approach that undermines hegemonic constructions of ability.CONCLUSIONS: By critically reflecting on this incident, I realised the importance of challenging normative assumptions when practising within neoliberal contexts where socio-cultural hegemony is amplified.

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Cited references
45
With a DOI
43
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
0
1 / 45 (2.2%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
0 / 45 (0.0%)
References with detected author names
45 / 45 (100.0%)
Without detected author names
0
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
0
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
64
From DOI or external metadata
64
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
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0
1 / 64 (1.6%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 63 / 64 (98.4%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
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Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 1 / 1 (100.0%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 1 / 60 (1.7%).
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