consider how various media outlets depict “disabilities or illnesses” and compare and contrast these portrayals with one or two theoretical perspectives and/or practice models that inform social work practice.

1. REFLECTIVE PAPER: PORTRAYALS OF ILLNESS AND DISABILITY IN THE MEDIA (30 POINTS)

Traditional models of understanding illness and disability such as the medical model were built on frameworks that focused on the individual, primarily pathology or deficit based. The purpose of this reflective paper is to consider how various media outlets depict “disabilities or illnesses” and compare and contrast these portrayals with one or two theoretical perspectives and/or practice models that inform social work practice. See Appendix B for requirements, instructions, and grading rubric. The paper must be submitted to the instructor via TURNITIN.

APPENDIX B

REFLECTION PAPER: MEDIA PORTRAYALS OF ILLNESS AND DISABILITY (30 POINTS)

As you complete your graduate education, viewing information from diverse sources through a “social work lens” can lead you to be a great advocate to those individuals, groups, or communities that may experience health disparities, illnesses, or disabilities. This is an opportunity to identify what you have learned, critically examine how the issue is presented to the general public and offer recommendations on how to advocate and promote the social work ethics and values such as dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, as well as our professional mission.

The purpose of this reflective paper is to consider how various media outlets portray “disabilities or illnesses” and compare and contrast these portrayals with one or two theoretical perspectives and/or practice models, which inform social work practice. Then, as an advocate, present recommendations on how the media source could have portrayed the topic from a strength-based or empowering position, incorporating the professional values and ethics of social work.

This reflective paper should be based on a full-length feature film. See the list below for suggestions. Other films that you may want to use must be approved by the instructor. Students may view movies in groups, but each student must write his/her own reflective paper.

• List of films, which cover a range of disabilities with accuracy. https://themighty.com/2015/02/oscar-nominated-films-that-got-disease-and-disability-right/
• Students may want to view the TED Talks listed below for inspiration and how to view illness and disabilities through a strength-based lens. https://www.ted.com/talks?sort=newest&topics%5B%5D=disability

Suggested Reflective Paper Outline. No more than 6 pages.

• State the film you reviewed and provide a BRIEF summary
• Identify the “illness/ disability” you will be addressing
• Describe how this experience is portrayed in the film. If you are focusing on a specific incident or sequence, please note this.
• Based on this, identify and explain how this experience fits a “viewpoint” about this illness or disability, for example, is it based on a medical model? A disability approach?
• Contrast this portrayal with a strength-based or another empowering model of social work practice that was covered in any of your coursework. You must explain what the approach is and describe how the situation or actor presented the issue(s).
• Then, as an advocate for this person/situation, provide recommendations on how the media source could have portrayed the topic from a strength-based or empowering position, incorporating social work values and ethics.
• NOTE: If the movie portrays the “illness or disability” through a strength-based or social work empowerment perspective, celebrate this and then offer how it could have been portrayed if a deficit model was used in the movie.
• Offer final thoughts of your own learning on any topic in this course.

REFLECTION PAPER: MEDIA PORTRAYALS OF ILLNESS AND DISABILITY GRADING RUBRIC (30 POINTS)