Intrinsic dignity, relationships, and promise in communities of people with Down syndrome and learning disabilities : Lessons for social work

Abstract

This research aims to explore how intrinsic dignity can be encountered through relationship, embodying meaning in the dynamic of a promise. Current literature has associated dignity with capacities of self-sovereignty: bodily integrity, control of identity and an experience of justice and thriving. Intrinsic dignity is generally invoked in claiming rights to protect or enable these, and requiring them to be respected. The literature has neglected how intrinsic dignity is encountered as a phenomenon in its own right.

A phenomenological method is pursued, drawing on Marion and Levinas. The author’s experience as a father of two children with Down syndrome is explored alongside semi-structured interviews, observation and third-party accounts with nine members, five volunteers and two staff from Boaz, a day service based on a farm.

The research elucidates how intrinsic dignity manifests in relationship as a command that calls to respond in responsibility to the other. I witness the other person’s intrinsic dignity by being humbly open to them and responding in responsibility to them in the vulnerability of their body and the situation they find themselves in. This witnesses to them that they have a worth that does not depend on contingent circumstances. It also witnesses to me and others who see or hear about it, the possibility that we have a worth that does not depend on contingent circumstances. If a person engages with this experience it awakens a call to witness other people’s intrinsic dignity to them. This reveals our ethical belonging to each other. If we ground our life in this ethical belonging to each other we can discover a rich ethical meaning that brings a relational and transformative hope to our lives.

The findings call for social work to recentre on the importance of relationship and a recovery of the value of vulnerability. This requires social workers to engage with their experience and explore the ethical nature of all relationships.

Date of Award	13 Nov 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Winchester
Supervisor	Wayne Veck (Supervisor) & Michael Hall (Supervisor)