Students, Recent Grads, Educators, and Field Coordinators: We want to hear from you!

Now Recruiting: Sign Up for a Focus Group

Four people sitting at desks in what looks like a classroom. They seem to be having a discussion

Overview
This national study explores accommodation experiences in Canadian social work education, building on a national survey of disabled students and students with disabilities. Phase 2 of the study includes online focus groups with students/recent graduates, faculty/instructors, and field coordinators to better understand how accommodations are experienced, implemented, and supported across classroom and field education settings.

What’s Involved?
Participants are invited to take part in an online focus group on Microsoft Teams. Focus groups will take approximately 60 minutes and will include discussion about accommodation experiences, challenges, supports, and suggestions for improving accessibility in social work education.

Focus groups will be organized by participant role, with separate groups for students/recent graduates, faculty/instructors, and field coordinators. Focus groups will be audio-recorded for research purposes.

Before participating, individuals will complete a brief online form to confirm eligibility, indicate availability, and share any accessibility or participation supports that may be helpful.

You may be eligible to participate if:

  • You are a social work student or recent graduate within the past three years from a Canadian social work program (participants will receive a $30 e-gift card);
  • You are currently or recently, within the past two years, a field coordinator on the program side in a Canadian social work program; or
  • You are currently or recently, within the past two years, a faculty member or course instructor in a Canadian social work program.
  • Participants must be conversationally fluent in English or willing and able to use interpretation supports, such as ASL.
bird's eye view of students working; cell phones on the table

Why This Research Matters
Disabled students and students with disabilities bring vital perspectives to social work education, yet continue to encounter barriers in both classroom and field settings. Accommodation processes can also be shaped by institutional policies, professional expectations, field placement requirements, and relationships with faculty, staff, and field education personnel.

This study will help identify structural issues, document promising practices, and guide educators, field coordinators, and administrators in making meaningful changes to support accessibility in Canadian social work education.

Download the Recruitment Flyer: Recruitment Flyer (PDF)

Questions?
This study has been reviewed and approved by the Interdisciplinary Committee on Ethics in Human Research (ICEHR) at Memorial University (Certificate #: 20251772-SW).

For more information, please contact: Mariela Calderon Muñoz, Research Assistant (ccalderonmun@mun.ca) or Dr. Ami Goulden, Principal Investigator (agoulden@mun.ca)