Psychology and Disability: analysis of training and insertion of psychologists in Social Assistance services

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the meanings of professional training and the process of insertion of psychologists who work in the Special Social Protection Service for‌ ‌Disabled people, ‌Elderly‌ ‌and‌ ‌their‌ ‌Families (SEPREDI/SUAS). For this purpose, six professionals from three cities in Santa Catarina were interviewed. The information was obtained through in-depth interviews and analyzed from the meaning cores. The theoretical perspective was based on the dialogue between Socio-Historical Psychology and the feminist perspective of Disability Studies. The results indicated the need for initial and continuing training to prepare psychologists to deal with the complexity of the demands present in services such as SEPREDI. The dialogue of socio-historical psychology with the field of disability studies with a feminist matrix was the theoretical perspective adopted, understanding disability as a transversal and political experience. The results analyzed from the meaning cores pointed to the need for initial and continuing education to prepare psychologists to deal with the complexity of the demands present in services such as SEPREDI. Furthermore, they indicate the importance of public examinations aimed at selecting professionals for SUAS being specific to this field of work. The relevance of an intersectional, intersectoral training that is attentive to the guarantee of human rights is highlighted.