Integration of Religion and Spirituality With Social Work Practice in Disability Issues

Masateru Higashida

doi:10.1177/2158244015627672

Abstract

This case study examines the integration of religion and spirituality (RS) into disability issues from the perspective of social work in Sri Lanka. Participant observation was applied in the model administrative division of the national community-based rehabilitation (CBR) program in Anuradhapura from February 2013 to January 2015. Theravada Buddhists constitute more than 99% of the population in the area studied. The participation opportunities included group activities, home visits to disabled people, and informal interviews with stakeholders. This study used the author’s field notes, which were based on the participant observation. By applying qualitative analysis, episodes and narratives were summarized into two main categories: RS-related activities and secondary RS-related phenomena. We found that the possible functions of RS practices, by disabled people and the other stakeholders, were alternative education, promotion of participation, and a sense of unity. These findings suggest that integration can be the practice to reconstruct RS aspects in disability issues.

Highlights

With disability issues, it is significant “to work with religious leaders and members of all faiths within the community to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in their activities” (World Health Organization [WHO], United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], International Labour Organization [ILO], and International Disability and Development Consortium [IDDC], 2010, p. 32)
The participant observation was conducted in R-division, which is located in the North-Central Province
The present study attempted to examine the integration of religion and spirituality (RS) into social work practice in the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) program

Summary

Introduction

It is significant “to work with religious leaders and members of all faiths within the community to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in their activities” (World Health Organization [WHO], United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], International Labour Organization [ILO], and International Disability and Development Consortium [IDDC], 2010, p. 32). While having a relation with postmodernism and contemporary social theory, in some cases by comparison with evidence-based practice (Gray, 2008; Mosher, 2010), great attention has been paid to RS in social work practice (Oxhandler & Pargament, 2014). It includes social work education (Morgan, Berwick, & Walsh, 2008) and a perspective of greening (Besthorn, 2002; Mosher, 2010; Pulla, 2014b). Drawing on the answers to a questionnaire, Hardt, Schultz, Xander, Becker, and Dragan (2012) identify the four dimensions of spirituality as being a belief in God, engaging in a search for meaning, mindfulness, and a feeling of security

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion