Lack of Information

Many people we interviewed stated that social workers did not provide them with sufficient information in a timely manner about services and equipment to which they are entitled and the procedures for obtaining them. Many believed that social workers were only assigned to carry out only administrative work regarding their cases or to verify their residency at a particular address.[36]

Ziba, a woman with physical disabilities said that when she first became disabled, after a car accident, she felt lost and confused and missed opportunities for treatment due to the lack of information. She explained:

No one explained what I should do and where I should go to get services for my disability. … My name had been on the list of a small number of people eligible to receive periodic medical visits at home for two years before I learned that I could even get this service,” she said.[37]

Akbar, father of a man with psychosocial disabilities said, “Once there was a [time] limited opportunity to get my other son exempted from compulsory military service because of his brother’s disability. But we missed it because the social worker didn’t tell us about it.”[38]

Due to the lack of information from social workers, many people with disabilities we interviewed said they mostly rely on personal networks to hear about these opportunities or must frequently call the SWO office to check if any services are available.[39]