Changing the paradigm of disability from stigma to equity in university social work education in Kyrgyzstan 1

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to tease out the historical and deeply rooted ethical standards, spirituality and social values that have long supported the social service system in Kyrgyzstan, which, today, faces pressure to align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The data is based on an intervention conducted as part of the EU-Social Protection Systems Programme (EU-SPS) in Kyrgyzstan between 2017-2018 where 30 university lecturers were part of. Interviews both to the Kyrgyz trainers with disabilities and trainees of the university lecturers as well as follow-up survey conducted in 2019 form important part of data for this paper. We firstly investigate the conventional ethical standards, spiritual explanations and social values related to disabilities within the Kyrgyz social protection system and social services. We elaborate on the Kyrgyz context of the societal ethics, spirituality and values around disability in the Kyrgyz university education for social workers. Secondly, we analyse the transformation of the perception of disability among the university lecturers. We conclude this paper with a discussion on the negotiation between a charity-based approach that reinforces the stigmatization of disability and a human rights-based approach that promotes paradigm change, to contribute to global discourse of social change towards disability inclusion.

Changing the paradigm of disability from stigma to equity in university social work education in Kyrgyzstan

“…At the same time, new types of services that support children and adults with disabilities to live in the community must be developed to replace the services provided through institutions. A representative of an organization of persons with disabilities has pointed out that the legal illiteracy of young persons with disabilities is a major problem, because many do not know what benefits they are entitled to, and how and where to get them (Interviewee 23 cited in Katsui, , p. 4). The ideology of independent living based on human rights principles and ethical values is not well understood or known by either duty‐bearers or rights‐holders.…”