Course Title: Professional Practices in Disability 1A

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Professional Practices in Disability 1A

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
HWSS2087	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	150H Health Sciences	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010
HWSS2087	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013

Course Coordinator: Assoc Professor Jeff Walkley

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7359

Course Coordinator Email: jeff.walkley@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

This is a first year course. It assumes that the student has had little or no experience with people with a disability.
It is mandatory for all students to have a current police check and working with children check. These documents must be registered with the administration office located on level 4, Building 201.
 

Course Description

It is essential to understanding how people working in the human service sector should present themselves in a professional capacity, how professional attitudes and practices have evolved, and how these relate to the current philosophy of organisations within the disability sector. Professional Practices in Disability 1A introduces students to the underpinning professional basis of working with people with a disability.
Communication misunderstandings and an inability to communicate may make it more difficult for people with disability to explain their needs. Maladaptive behaviour may manifest as a way of communication. Professional Practices in Disability 1A introduces students to major theories, models and research about effective communication. The communicative function of behaviour, including challenging behaviours, will be discussed with an emphasis on the need to provide effective communication skills and opportunities to people with intellectual disability. Students will also examine in detail the application of verbal and non-verbal communication from intra-personal and group perspectives and in order to analysis communication styles.
Also included will be methods of augmented communication (technological and non-technological) including facilitated communication, compic-sign, computer aids and sign language. Students will relate these topics to selected criteria for matching client needs to available resources in order to teaching communication methods to people with intellectual disabilities.

Students will be given the basic theory about positive communication and interaction with others, and they will learn to adapt these skills as they undertake placement at various organisations providing services to people with disabilities.
The placement venues may include a variety of human service organisations, for example early intervention settings, aged care facilities, education and vocational settings, recreational and leisure, and sensory services.
 

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the conclusion of this course, students who have attended lectures and tutorials, completed assigned readings and completed the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program are expected to be able to;
Reflect and make judgments about their own interactions and on the impact of their interactions in influencing the behaviour and responses of significant others (staff, clients, peers).
Describe types of communication and how communication can be facilitated.
Communicate in a range of forms (written, electronic, graphic, oral) to the circumstances of the situation and capabilities of the audience.
Reflect on optimising informal and formal learning situations and apply the learnt principles to professional and non-professional situations

Consider the implications of the topics covered in relation to their own ethics and future work practices.

Work as a beginning practitioner in the disability profession and understand the roles of various professional staff in service settings.

 

At the conclusion of this course, students who have attended lectures and tutorials, completed assigned readings and completed the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program are expected to be able to;
Reflect and make judgments about their own interactions and on the impact of their interactions in influencing the behaviour and responses of significant others (staff, clients, peers).
Describe types of communication and how communication can be facilitated.
Communicate in a range of forms (written, electronic, graphic, oral) to the circumstances of the situation and capabilities of the audience.
Reflect on optimising informal and formal learning situations and apply the learnt principles to professional and non-professional situations

Consider the implications of the topics covered in relation to their own ethics and future work practices.

Work as a beginning practitioner in the disability profession and understand the roles of various professional staff in service settings.
 

Overview of Learning Activities

Key concepts and their application will be explained and illustrated in lectures, with opportunities to discuss and debate these in small group tutorials.
The learning in this course requires students to complete case studies and role plays. Students will also be required to undertake a WIL experience that will require a degree of self-direction and motivation. Students will be encouraged to direct their own learning as they reflect on their personal values and practices.
 

Overview of Learning Resources

This course will utilise the myRMIT Studies as an adjunct to learning.

Overview of Assessment

There are two main components for assessment in Professional Practices 1A
Section 1: Part A
Case Study Mid-point summary presentation
Due: End of Week 6. This assessment is worth 15% of your final grade
Section 1: Part B
Case Study Group Presentation. This assessment is worth 15% of your final grade
Written summary: This assessment is worth 20% of your final grade
Due: End of Week 11.
Section 2: Part A You will be required to support one person or a small group of people on a weekly basis over a 12 week period. You will also be required to complete 10 extra days in a disability related service
This assessment is worth 25% of your final grade
Due End of Week 12
Section 2: Part B
Part B: You will also be required to attend and contribute to a mentoring program which will be conducted by 3rd year students as part of their subject/course in leadership.
This assessment is worth 25% of your final grade
Due End of Week 12