Course Title: Maintain an environment to empower people with disabilities
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2014
Course Code: HWSS5573C
Course Title: Maintain an environment to empower people with disabilities
School: 365T Global, Urban & Social Studies
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4329 - Certificate IV in Disability
Course Contact : Renee Costa
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 0886
Course Contact Email:renee.costa@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Mary Collins - Teacher, Disability Work, Oncampus programs (03) 99254598, mary.collins@rmit.edu.au
Maura Lynch - Teacher, Disability Work -Industry programs (03) 99254577, maura.lynch@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 90
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Not applicable
Course Description
This course describes the knowledge and skills required by the worker to facilitate the empowerment of a people with disability by fostering self determination, independence and strengths.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CHCDIS302A Maintain an environment to empower people with disabilities |
Element: |
1. Work to enhance the independence and 'self-determination' of the person with a disability |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1Encourage and support independent action and thinking by the person with the disability |
Element: |
2. Foster the independence of a person with a disability |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1Develop and support strategies to promote independence, taking differences into account |
Element: |
3. Contribute to the development and review of policy and legislation related to disabilities and disability services |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1Encourage people with disability and/or their advocate/s /carer to express their views about policies, legislation and empowerment |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate your competency in the above elements.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course you will focus on the critical area of empowerment of a group of citizens who have or are at risk of having minimal control over their own lives and decisions. The classroom sessions will include topics such as identifying barriers and challenges to independence and decision-making, supporting and encouraging self advocacy and choices, advocacy services and the links to effective communication. There will be individual and group activities in-class and guest speakers will be sought from industry. The Certificate IV in Disability includes a field placement in a community disability service of 200 hours across the whole program and the knowledge and skills you gain in this course will be developed further through the placement.
Teaching Schedule
| Week | Topics |
| 1 | Course introduction, assessment tasks, links to practice |
| 2 | Developing, encouraging and supporting independence |
| 3 | Person centred planning, self directed funding, the NDIS |
| 4 | Empowerment for people with severe, multiple and profound levels of disability. |
| 5 | Labour Day - Public Holiday |
| 6 | Communication and empowerment - a critical link |
| 7 | Agencies that support self management and independence |
| 8 | The roles of staff as individuals and groups who work with people with disabilities |
| 9 | Empowerment and human relationships and sexuality |
| 10 | Guest speaker - (to be confirmed), a person with a disability |
| 11 | Field Placement preparation - how students empower or disempower the people they support |
| 12 | Field Placement |
| 13 | Field Placement |
| 14 | Field Placement review - empowerment in practice - is it actually happening in the sector each day? |
| 15 | Reviewing legislation and policy in the context of empowerment |
| 16 | Client feedback in disability and community services |
| 17 | Queen’s Birthday - public holiday |
| 18 | Course review - environments, attitudes and values in practice |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
During sessions you will be directed to relevant sources of information including the website of the Disability Services Commissioner (DSC), Office of the Public Advocate (OPA), Office of the Senior Practitioner (OSP) and other agencies and organisations who provide support to people with disabilities and their families and carers.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is ongoing throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills.
The assessments will include a research report, a set of questions that focus on the theories of empowerment and a field placement.
Assessment Tasks
There are four assessment tasks for this Course.:
1. Short answer questions - a set of questions that focus on the theories of empowerment and how theories might be put into practice
2. Research and report - into disability advocacy organisations, their purpose and functions
3. Reflective response: you will consider the Disability Act 2006, Person Centred practices and the NDIS - how can people with disabilities be empowered to manage their own lives?
4. Field Placement: observations and practices, you will prepare a report on the day to day activities and practices on the field placement agency reflecting on how/if it actively empowers the people it supports.
Assessment Matrix
A detailed will be available from the course teacher
Other Information
Assessment Tasks Submission Cover Sheet
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.
Attendance
It is strongly advised that you attend all workshops in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.
Feedback
You will receive verbal and written feedback by teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your competency. Information regarding student feedback can be found at:http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=9pp3ic9obks7
Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. The Student progress policy can be found at:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=vj2g89cve4uj1
Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Information regarding application for special consideration can be found at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity Web site: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kw02ylsd8z3n
Course Overview: Access Course Overview