There is a growing number of human and social problems, while some are complex, others are intractable, however, both forms of problem are in serious need of attention by professionals in the field of social works (Proctor, 2019). One of the key areas of social work identified by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) that I am certain experience critical problems and which I intend use my expertise, as a social worker to address is child welfare (NASW, 2025). To be precise, my interest lies in serving the children with disabilities. The concept “children with disabilities” is technically defined in accordance with the Convention on the Right of the child, children with disabilities as children 18 years or younger who deal with prolonged physical, intellectual, mental or sensory impairment – in interaction with the environment, experiences various barriers (whether physical, attitudinal, and communication & informational) capable of hindering their effective participation in the society when equally assessed with others (United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2022). My interest in this group is solely anchored on their vulnerable nature as they are prone to discrimination, penury and social insecurity, lack of access to basic health care and educational infrastructure, and exposure to violence and abuse. All of which causes them to experience social exclusion, financial difficulty and negative stereotypes (Calvert, 2021).
On the other hand, the professional knowledge necessary as a social worker to help render quality service that meets the needs of children with disabilities can be obtained through different knowledge bases. I am aware that as a social worker, I must be knowledgeable about different aspects – culture, groups, liberal arts, communication patterns, human development, theories, relationships, self, resource systems, and psychology of giving and taking help (Uche et al,2017). However, I will dwell on knowledge of theories because these provide a framework for better understanding children with disabilities (Ceasar, 2024). Things like socio-economic influences, manner of societal exclusions, approaches to render quality service for the subject of discussion.
As a professional social worker, I understand that poverty is one factor that influence that have been strongly associated with children with disabilities. I, therefore examined it so as to be able to improve the well-being of these children, provide necessary support and services, and providing a safe and nurturing environment. A theoretical definition of poverty that I share resonance with, is that of Ramphoma (2014) who opined that the concept is the inability of individuals or households to earn the basic resources necessary to achieve a socially acceptable minimum standard of living. There is a direct two-way relationship between being disabled and being poor. The first way relationship is evidenced in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (2009) assertion that people with disability (children inclusive) have a higher poverty rate. Individually, a clear justification for this assertion is the exclusion from quality education, employment and community life which eventually prevents disable children from making adequate incomes (Mont, 2014).
