Course Title: Disability, Access and Equity
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Disability, Access and Equity
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
HWSS2084 |
Bundoora Campus |
Undergraduate |
150H Health Sciences |
Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010 |
HWSS2084 |
Bundoora Campus |
Undergraduate |
150H Health Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013 |
HWSS2084 |
Bundoora Campus |
Undergraduate |
360H Education |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2014 |
HWSS2085 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
150H Health Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007 |
Course Coordinator: Danielle Clark
Course Coordinator Phone: Please email for appointment
Course Coordinator Email: danielle.clark@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Off campus
Course Coordinator Availability: Please email for appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
The world we live in is characterised by inequality. This is particularly the case for people with a disability. Over the years a number of strategies have been used to promote equality and challenge discrimination and oppression. This course is organised around key themes, such as empowerment, rights, and advocacy, to critically examine the strengths and limitations of these approaches.
Discrimination and oppression operates at different levels. They are found in the individual attitudes of people, the values of societies, and social structures. In exploring the course themes, we move between these different levels in order to equip human service workers with ideas and strategies for promoting equality.
Service providers in the disability sector are bound by the legislation of the day. This legislation governs all of their behaviour, and directly impacts on the services that they are able to provide. An understanding of, and commitment to, the pertinent legislation, both Victorian and Australian, is imperative if services provided to people with disabilities are to be of the highest quality. Service providers need to be aware of how and why the legislation affects them and their practice, and ultimately their client group. This course focuses on cutting edge information pertinent to the current trends and policies in the Victorian and Australian disability sector.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
At the successful completion of this course students will be able to
- Discuss the way in which social divisions engender inequality.
- Critically engage with the ideas that support and sustain inequalities.
- Outline strategies for addressing discrimination and oppression in human services.
Overview of Learning Activities
The learning in this course requires students to locate equity for people with a disability within the theoretical and legislative frameworks applied in different times and in a variety of contexts. Learning activities will be based around a series of lectures, case studies/problem based activities, scenarios, and debates. These are designed to provide students with an opportunity to appreciate the breadth of access and equity issues faced by people with a disability both historically and in contemporary service delivery and community settings.
Emphasis will be placed on group work. Students will be provided with opportunities to debate and discuss with other students the issues and implications related to the needs and aspirations of people with a disability. Through critical analysis of the evidence students will make informed judgments about the relevance and appropriateness of approaches and practices adopted by service providers in meeting these needs and aspirations.
Reflection will be an important part of the learning process. The learning activities will need to challenge each student to reflect on their personal values and practices and assess these in relation to the values and practices of the disability profession and the community more broadly. This is designed to provide students with an opportunity to develop a stronger sense of what it means to them to be a disability professional in contemporary service delivery environment.
Overview of Learning Resources
The students will be able to access course information and learning materials through MyRMIT and will be provided with reading lists or other sources of information. Students will also use the library resources and University computer facilities.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course includes an in-class test, a group project and a group presentation.