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.