The Disability Manuscript Award recognizes scholarship that contributes to knowledge about disability; full participation of persons with disabilities; social, political, and economic issues related to disability and persons with disabilities; and social work education curriculum materials focused on disability and persons with disabilities. The Disability Manuscript Award winner(s) are recognized during the Annual Program Meeting (APM).
Award Requirements
All CSWE members with oral presentations, interactive posters, or interactive workshops are invited to submit relevant scholarly papers for consideration. CDPD particularly encourages submission of manuscripts that do the following:
- Are consistent with the CDPD mission
- Use appropriate methodology
- Include well-developed applications to social work practice or policy
- Include clear implications for social work education
- Demonstrate a significant affect on the disability field and persons with disabilities through publication or other means
- Are innovative in overall concepts and purpose
- Manuscripts featuring experiences of disabled people and people with disabilities will be prioritized
- Positionality statements within manuscripts are highly encouraged
Please note that there is a 30-page limit on manuscript submissions. Manuscripts that are over the page limit will not be considered. Applicants should remove all identifying information from the manuscript upload.
At least one (1) author of the paper must agree to attend the award presentation during the CDPD Connect session at the APM.
CSWE membership is an eligibility requirement for all commission and council awards. To check your membership status, or link your membership your social work program visit https://www.cswe.org/membership and click Link to Program/Join CSWE.
The call for nominations is now closed. Please check back soon for the list of awardees.
2024 Disability Manuscript Award Recipient
The CSWE Council on Disability and Persons With Disabilities (CDPD) is pleased to announce the 2024 Disability Manuscript Award recipient. The award recognizes scholarship that contributes to knowledge about disability; full participation of persons with disabilities; social, political, and economic issues related to disability and persons with disabilities; and social work education curriculum materials focused on disability and persons with disabilities.
Please join us in celebrating the 2024 Disability Manuscript Award Winner, Dr. Aesha John, LMSW for her submission titled “Curricular Initiatives for Dementia Education.”
Aesha John, LMSW, PhD
Texas Christian University
Dr. Aesha John is an associate professor in the Department of Social Work at Texas Christian University (TCU). She earned her PhD in Human Environmental Sciences from Oklahoma State University. Her doctoral training in human development, combined with her decade- long practice with individuals with disabilities informs Dr. John’s scholarship and teaching. She teaches lifespan classes (HBSE 1 & 2) and her research focuses on well-being among individuals with disabilities and their families. As a community engaged scholar, Dr. John creates service learning opportunities that connect BSW and MSW students in her lifespan classes to the local disability community. Through partnerships with local organizations, she has implemented community-based book clubs and job training programs for individuals with disabilities, and in which her students have served as program facilitators. Currently, in her HBSE 2 class, which focuses on adulthood and healthy aging, students interact and facilitate activities for residents at an assisted living facility. They also engage in dementia simulation and conduct interviews with individuals living with dementia. By providing opportunities for these meaningful interactions, Dr. John aims to foster compassion and positive regard among future social work professionals toward these vulnerable and marginalized groups.
2024 Honorable Mention Recipient
The 2024 Honorable Mention is awarded to Jade Presnell, MS, LSW for her submission, " Promoting Justice for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Strategies for Advancing Anti-Oppressive Social Work Education and Practice."
Jade Presnell, MS, LSW
School of Social Work, Indiana University
Jade Presnell is a licensed social worker with graduate degrees in psychology and social work. Jade has over a decade of clinical practice experience supporting persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in various capacities. She is currently a doctoral candidate and adjunct faculty at Indiana University School of Social Work where she engages in research and teaching with the aim of building more inclusive and equitable communities. Her research interests include strategies for advancing social inclusion and improving direct support workforce wellbeing, trauma-informed care, and fostering disability affirming, rights based social work practice.