Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM)

The Bachelor of Disability Management is a degree with an applied focus. It is the first and only degree of this nature and level internationally. The Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) provides graduates with the underpinning of knowledge, skills and competencies, on the one hand, to assist absent workers to return to work and, on the other hand, to assist employing organizations, service providers and insurers in the public, private and not for profit sectors to introduce and operate cost-effective and responsive DM and return to work programs.

The program will be of interest to working adults who seek a credential related to their current field of activity – most frequently health, human resources, occupational health and safety, insurance, union representation, or government services, and to students graduating from high school who wish to pursue a career in workplace health science. In the evolving field of disability management, the degree has been designed to give students the necessary technical skills and to empower them as leaders in reshaping the approach and systems involving workers with disabilities.

The degree is comprised of 120 credits. Applicants are admitted directly into the third year of the program having completed 60-credits in a related discipline (e.g. an associate degree, 2-year diploma or other relevant educational prerequisite providing 60 credits) from a recognized post-secondary educational institution. Preferred relevant disciplines include human resources, occupational health and safety, healthcare, business and social work.

The content and structure of the BDM has been designed and developed to ensure that successful graduates have the underpinning knowledge and skills, which are congruent with the International Disability Management Standards Council (IDMSC) Occupational Standards. This places BDM graduates in a favorable position, once they have fulfilled the work practice requirements, to embark on the certification process for the Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) or Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC).

The General Admission procedure, for applicants who have graduated from secondary education at an equivalent level to Canadian High School Grade 12, or who have one or more years of undergraduate education, or who are applying through a block transfer agreement, or who have a current CDMP or CRTWC requires an applicant to submit a portfolio that consists of:

• Personal details;
• Personal profile that includes a written statement by the prospective student of reasons for seeking admission;
• Submission of a portfolio detailing the prospective student’s academic and other achievements and evidence of the capacity to complete university at a degree level;
• If available, Official Transcripts from the applicant’s secondary institution of graduation;
• If available, Official Transcripts from the applicant’s post-secondary institution of study;
• Copies of certificates of training.

The Flexible Admission application consists of the following:

• Personal details;
• Personal profile that includes a written statement by the prospective student of reasons for seeking admission;
• Submission of a portfolio detailing the prospective student’s academic and other achievements and evidence of the capacity to complete university at a degree level;
• If available, Official Transcripts from the applicant’s secondary institution of graduation;
• If available, Official Transcripts from the applicant’s post-secondary institution of study;
• Copies of certificates of training.

Applicants applying through the Flexible Admissions procedure may be required to demonstrate an appropriate level of numeracy and literacy by undergoing standardized testing as part of the application process.

International applicants must also provide evidence of proficiency in English. A list of ways that English language proficiency can be demonstrated is provided below.

• 4 consecutive years in secondary English in an English-speaking country;
• BC English or Literature 12 or Canadian equivalent;
• Completed international baccalaureate;
• A degree or diploma from a post-secondary institution in an English-speaking country;
• First year of Canadian university English;
• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) at level 70 or higher;
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at level 6.5 or higher;
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery MELAB at level 85 or higher;
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet at level 90 or higher;
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper test – at least 55 each for Reading, Listening and Writing.

There is currently a shortage of qualified, competent and certified disability management practitioners. Workplaces are focusing on better return to work outcomes for employees. Positions in disability management programs are expanding rapidly in North America, Europe, and elsewhere as employers realize the benefits of a professionally developed workplace-based program.

Prospective places of employment include:
• Employers
• Unions
• Government
• Workers compensation boards
• Insurance companies
• Disability Management service providers

Employees responsible for disability management may also have other responsibilities such as:
• Human Resources
• Health & Safety
• Health & Wellness Promotion
• Employee Benefits

As disability management principles are embraced by small and medium-sized firms, there is an opportunity for experienced professionals to establish their own businesses, offering disability management contract services to local employers.