Disability Rights Texas joins countless other organizations across the country in expressing outrage at the recent actions of the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners. On October 12, the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners voted to change the code of conduct regarding when a social worker can refuse to serve someone. The change removed language in the code that prohibited social workers from turning away a person based on disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. As the protection and advocacy organization for Texas, Disability Rights Texas will not stand for this type of discriminatory action.
Removing protections for people with disabilities and LGBTQI individuals is especially egregious because members of these communities make up a significant portion of the population that social workers serve. Individuals with mental health diagnoses are particularly vulnerable to discrimination by social workers, along with many others who identify as part of the disability community. The change invites social workers to think they are free to discriminate against people with disabilities and LGBTQI persons and this is wrong. It’s not only discriminatory, it’s a hostile action against people in the disability and LGBTQI communities.
In the coming weeks, Disability Rights Texas will be fighting back against this discriminatory change in order to ensure that all Texans will be served by social workers, regardless of disability or LGBTQI status. Stay tuned to our website and social media outlets for updates.