Strengths-based practice

Overview

Adopting a strengths-based approach to disability employment practice means working with a person to identify things that they are good at including their knowledge, skills and social connections.¹ The concept of ‘strengths’ encompasses a range of different characteristics and it is helpful to think about the different types of strengths each individual has. Strengths include people’s talents (natural and learned abilities); skills and competencies; interests and passions; values; resources (including networks, cultural and physical resources); and character strengths and traits.² All of these can aid the person on the journey to employment. 

A strengths-based approach:

• is the opposite of a deficit-based approach where the focus is on what the person cannot do
• acknowledges that people have the potential to make significant contributions to their communities
• avoids the use of stigmatising language that can make a person feel excluded or judged.

A strengths-based approach should be person-centred. This means that the person with a disability is recognised as the expert on their own life and should be supported to come up with solutions that are unique to their specific context and strengths.³

Another key feature of the strengths-based approach should be building self-determination. Self-determination is a person’s ability to:

• act for themselves
• pursue their goals
• face challenges and learn from mistakes.⁴

It is often assumed that people with disability are unable to perform certain tasks and this can undermine their sense of self-determination. A person must believe in their ability to reach their goals in order to make progress.⁵

The evidence shows that strength-based approaches can improve the confidence and self-esteem of people with disability.⁶ Strengths-based approaches may be particularly useful in vocational rehabilitation and disability employment settings. For example, focusing on strengths, rather than limitations, can help improve self-esteem.^{7 8}

Key strategies for success 

A strengths-based approach should be the foundation of any disability employment service and should be a focus for employers of people with disability. Key strategies to support a strengths-based approach include:

• supporting people with disability to identify their own strengths, capabilities and priorities
• working with people with disability to identify goals that are meaningful and achievable to them
• supporting people to be their own advocates
• assisting people to continually refine what success means for them in relation to their personal career goals and aspirations
• giving people the opportunity to make their own choices and decisions and learn from their mistakes
• identifying role models and mentors with disability
• celebrating the person’s successes.^{9 10}