Prof. Shirli Werner’s research and applied activities focus on two interrelated areas: the right to choice and stigma.
The right to choice: While the freedom to choose is inherent in modern, democratic societies, it has rarely been granted to disabled people on equal terms. In Israel, the right of choice of disabled people has been greatly compromised by the extensive use of guardianship appointments. The criticism of guardianship led to a recent reform in the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law. My research has assessed the attitudes of several groups of stakeholders in implementing the guardianship reform. For example, I have examined the factors that influence social workers' recommendations regarding guardianship and supported decision-making (SDM). I have also examined how family members, volunteers, and professional supporters perceive their SDM role.
Second, measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic have greatly reduced the exercise of human rights by disabled individuals and have negatively influenced their families. Specifically, strict social distancing measures have led to school closures and lock-down of residential settings for adults with disabilities, settings that are supposed to be “home.” My research has focused on the impact of these measures on persons with disabilities and on their families bringing to light the highly worrisome understanding that the realization of rights of disabled individuals would be in grave risk in case of any future pandemic or emergency situation.
Stigma: Stigmatic beliefs are an important barrier to the welfare and autonomy of persons with disabilities. Thus, I devoted many years of my career to the conceptualization, consequences, and management of stigma in the area of intellectual disabilities. Specifically, I concentrated on the effects of stigma as hindering help-seeking from services, as well as on service quality. Further, I examined teachers' and other professionals’ attitudes regarding the inclusion of disabled students in schools and its impact on disabled and non-disabled students' quality of life.
Prof. Shirli Werner is the co-head of the Center for Disability Studies. She is active in numerous national and international expert consulting activities. She is a board member of Beit-Issie Shapiro where she also co-heads the Participatory Action Research Group. She is an editorial board member in Stigma & Health and the Journal of Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities.
Shirli is married and a mother of 3 – her middle daughter has a physical disability and Shirli is devoted to bringing towards a better future.