OASW was pleased to recognize
J. Dale Munro as the 2024 recipient of this distinguished award. Over a career in social work spanning more than 50 years, J. Dale Munro has been a leader in supporting neurodiverse individuals and those with developmental challenges, elevating the profile of the profession in relation to disability services.
In his roles at the Oxford Regional Centre, Regional Support Associates, the Redpath Centre and as a private practitioner, Dale has worked tirelessly to serve the needs of persons with disabilities, their families, and the frontline workers who support them. As an early adopter of the strengths-based approach and perspective, Dale advocated for the rights and independence of those with intellectual disabilities in both micro and macro settings.
Dale’s contributions to this important field of social work include mentorship and capacity building, as he worked to share his knowledge with social work professionals, always with the goal of improving services for clients and addressing barriers for those who support them. Dale has also made significant contributions to social work’s body of knowledge around disability services, both as an author of extensive evidence-based publications and as a sought-after speaker and presenter.
Throughout his career, Dale has modeled and demonstrated the utmost respect for the dignity and worth of persons with disabilities and developmental challenges.