Social workers’ challenges in working with deaf bedouin service users

Abstract

Summary Arab-Bedouins, a minority in Israel, have a higher incidence of deafness than that reported for other populations. They also have a high incidence of familial deafness, which poses lifelong challenges to the family and requires an intensive array of treatment and familial organization, as well as the use of many, varied sociomedical and rehabilitative services. Most of Israel’s Arab-Bedouins live in the Negev desert region, where the social context of deaf people is particularly challenging. The reasons include the very limited access to information and services within the community and a lack of transportation nearby. This study of 18 social workers who provide services to deaf Arab-Bedouins used a qualitative methodology in the phenomenological tradition—underlying which is the attempt to understand the experience of the participants and the challenges they face—and thematic analysis. Findings We found challenges in two main areas: the unique characteristics of the recipients and the social and communal ramifications of deafness. Service users of different age groups and genders had unique problems. The social workers’ lack of sign language was the main obstacle to assessing problems, proposing solutions, and maintaining contact, and it made them feel inadequate. Applications The article suggests that implementing the person-in-environment (PIE) approach, including interventions of policy practices, may contribute to more effective coping by social workers with the professional challenges in the two selected areas. This principle is applicable to work with deaf members of any minority.