Ideas about people with disabilities have evolved dramatically since the 1950s – from individuals ‘suffering from illness’ and dependent on others, to today’s credo stressing participation and social inclusion. People with a disability are considered to have capacities and bear responsibility to achieve …

This article takes a close look at the openings of 12 different Dutch adoption assessment sessions. In the first of a series of 4 adoption assessment sessions, social workers perform different actions that are analyzed in detail. The overall focus is on how contact and relationships are established in …

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD1) is one of the most prevalent neuromuscular diseases, yet very little is known about how MD1 affects the lives of couples and how they themselves manage individually and together. To better match health care to their problems, concerns and needs, it is important …

In this study we examine how suitability for adoptive parenthood is assessed and displayed in interactions between social workers and prospective adoptive parents. In particular, we have analyzed relationship questions that are put to couples with and without an observation from the social worker. The answers …

This article reports on qualitative research among 48 social professionals, managers and policymakers and their perceptions of activating citizenship, social work roles and responsibilities, carried out in Utrecht and Tartu. Professionals from both countries agreed to the idea of activating citizenship …

This paper discusses two studies - the one in a business context, the other in a university context - carried out with expert educational designers. The studies aimed to determine the priorities experts claim to employ when designing competence-based learning environments. Designers in both contexts …

Debates about social theory and social policy are highly fragmented and unclear in subject and direction. A recognised paradigm is failing. Maybe we have to accept that social reality is not to reconstruct in social theory. But we certainly need social theorists and social theories to support citizens, …