Disability Studies (Cert)

1. Study
2. Adult Continuing Education
3. Study At ACE
4. Certificate
5. Disability Studies

About This Course

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Fact File

• Title

  Disability Studies

• Code

  CDS

• College

  Adult Continuing Education

• Duration

  1 year

• Teaching Mode

  Part-Time

• Qualifications

  Cert

• NFQ Level

  Level 6

• NFQ Award Title

  Special purpose

• Fees

  €990 See Fees and Costs for full details.

• Entry Requirements

  Applicants must be at least 21 years of age by 1 January of the year of application. See Requirements for full details.

• Closing Date

  TBC

• Next Intake

  See How Do I Apply for Further Details

• Venue

  Limerick

   

• Start Date

  TBC

Course Outline

Disability Studies is a vibrant area of study, developed over the past 40 years by academics presenting with a disability. It challenges the way in which disability is understood in society by facilitating development of research and new educational models. The aim is to help to remove the physical, legal, political, and attitudinal barriers that inhibit people with disabilities attaining their full potential for social participation.

This is both an interdisciplinary and a multi-disciplinary area, informed by scholarship from history, sociology, literature, political science, law, policy studies, economics, cultural studies, anthropology, geography, philosophy, theology, gender studies, media studies and the arts.

Understanding what Disability Studies may also be informed by what it is not. It is not: medicine, rehabilitation, special education, physical or occupational therapy or any of the professions oriented toward the cure, prevention, or treatment of disabilities.

Participation on the Certificate in Disability Studies will help you to develop your critical awareness of the factors operating in the world of disability. You will become aware of the ways in which different issues overlap and explore ways of working around situations that disadvantage people with impairments. In the process you will be encouraged to consider both your own attitudes, and the attitudes of others towards people with disabilities.

The certificate takes a mainly theoretical approach to disability, providing learners with a foundation in disability awareness. The delivery centres on the Social and Rights models of disability. You will be introduced to the concept of the ‘sociological imagination’ and thinking sociologically. The extent to which Irish policy and law currently caters for the rights of persons with disabilities is also examined. Exploration of educational approaches such as segregated education, integration, and inclusive education for students with disabilities will help you understand how the relationship between education, the economy and the demands of the labour force can exclude disabled people from participating in the workplace.

• Year 1 Modules

Course Practicalities

This is a part time program that runs on Thursday evenings from 18.30 to 21.30 and occasional Saturdays from 10.00 to 17.00.

Due to the current pandemic, it is likely that lectures for the first semester of the 2012-2022 academic year will be delivered through online, virtual classrooms.

Assessment

There are no written examinations. Assessment is assignment based. Course work is evaluated through a combination of essays, reflective journals, a legal case study, oral and poster presentations and a document review. In addition to the assignment guidelines provided on Canvas, lecturers will cover approaches to the assignment/s for the module that they deliver. The certificate contains two 10 credit modules and two 5 credit modules. Each of the ten credit module assignments has two elements while the five credit module assignments each have one element.

Who teaches this course?

All module lecturers are approved by the UCC ACE Board of Studies and hold a minimum of an MA in a related area. They are chosen for their combination of academic knowledge and rich body of experience working in the field.

Guest lecturers will contribute occasional presentations in their specialist areas.

Why Choose This Course

Disability Studies is a vibrant area of study, developed over the past 40 years by academics presenting with a disability. It challenges the way in which disability is understood in society by facilitating development of research and new educational models. The aim is to help to remove the physical, legal, political, and attitudinal barriers that inhibit people with disabilities attaining their full potential for social participation.

This is both an interdisciplinary and a multi-disciplinary area, informed by scholarship from history, sociology, literature, political science, law, policy studies, economics, cultural studies, anthropology, geography, philosophy, theology, gender studies, media studies and the arts.

Understanding what Disability Studies may also be informed by what it is not. It is not: medicine, rehabilitation, special education, physical or occupational therapy or any of the professions oriented toward the cure, prevention, or treatment of disabilities.

Participation on the Certificate in Disability Studies will help you to develop your critical awareness of the factors operating in the world of disability. You will become aware of the ways in which different issues overlap and explore ways of working around situations that disadvantage people with impairments. In the process you will be encouraged to consider both your own attitudes, and the attitudes of others towards people with disabilities.

The certificate takes a mainly theoretical approach to disability, providing learners with a foundation in disability awareness. The delivery centres on the Social and Rights models of disability. You will be introduced to the concept of the ‘sociological imagination’ and thinking sociologically. The extent to which Irish policy and law currently caters for the rights of persons with disabilities is also examined. Exploration of educational approaches such as segregated education, integration, and inclusive education for students with disabilities will help you understand how the relationship between education, the economy and the demands of the labour force can exclude disabled people from participating in the workplace.

This is a part time program that runs on Thursday evenings from 18.30 to 21.30 and occasional Saturdays from 10.00 to 17.00.

Due to the current pandemic, it is likely that lectures for the first semester of the 2012-2022 academic year will be delivered through online, virtual classrooms.

Assessment

There are no written examinations. Assessment is assignment based. Course work is evaluated through a combination of essays, reflective journals, a legal case study, oral and poster presentations and a document review. In addition to the assignment guidelines provided on Canvas, lecturers will cover approaches to the assignment/s for the module that they deliver. The certificate contains two 10 credit modules and two 5 credit modules. Each of the ten credit module assignments has two elements while the five credit module assignments each have one element.

Who teaches this course?

All module lecturers are approved by the UCC ACE Board of Studies and hold a minimum of an MA in a related area. They are chosen for their combination of academic knowledge and rich body of experience working in the field.

Guest lecturers will contribute occasional presentations in their specialist areas.

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.