Authors

• University of Eastern Finland

Keywords

legislation, persons with disabilities, rights and privileges, sickness and disability benefits, social work

Abstract

The data consists of writings in which clients describe their experiences of the use of discretion in disability social work and disability services. The data was collected as part of a larger research project (HaraVa 2022-2023) funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The writing invitation asked people to write freely and in their own way about their own experiences of using discretion in disability services and social work for people with disabilities. The writing invitation asked respondents to describe the type of discretion they had encountered in social work for people with disabilities, for example when applying for or deciding on services. It also asked about the impact of discretion and decisions in the respondent's life, how the respondent has experienced discretion in social services' practices, and how the respondent's own perspective has been taken into account. The respondents could write either about their own experiences or, for example, as a parent of a disabled person. If they so wished, they could also ask someone else to write a report on their behalf.

The writing invitation did not ask for respondents' background information.