Learn about Disability Support

A course for anyone involved with providing support care or services directly or indirectly to people with disabilities. The course is self-paced and can be started at any time to suit you.

The course is a useful way to

• develop an understanding of supporting people with disabilities
• expand your existing knowledge
• work towards professional development

Course Content

Ten lessons as follows:

Lesson 1.  Nature and Scope of Disability Support

• Introduction
• Models of disability
• Medical model
• Social model
• Definitions of disability
• Key terminology
• Human rights
• Underpinning human rights values - fairness, respect, equality, dignity, autonomy
• Diversity in the social context
• What equality means for those with disabilities
• Inclusivity and disabilities
• What influences inclusion
• Socio economic influences
• Life skills development

Lesson 2. Nature of Physical Disabilities

• Introduction
• Sensory disabilities
• Sight 
• Deaf/blindness
• Physical Mobility Disabilities
• Cerebral Palsy
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Motor Neurone Disease
• Amputees, Paraplegia, Hemiplegia and Quadriplegia
• Chronic pain and Arthritis
• Osteo conditions
• Neurological disorders - Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis
• Speech disorders
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Providing individualised support

Lesson 3.  Nature of Learning Differences

• What is a learning difference
• Dyslexia
• Dysgraphia
• Dyscalculia
• Dyspraxia
• Dysphasia
• Developmental language disorder
• Auditory processing disorder
• Visual perceptual motor disorder
• Non verbal learning disorder
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Intellectual disability
• How learning differences are identified and diagnosed
• Importance of early diagnosis/screening
• Who diagnoses
• When do diagnoses occur
• Who authorises in school and/or assessment judgements
• Provide individualised support
• Common whole school procedural/policy adjustments
• Common class adjustments
• Aspects to include
• Common assessment adjustments
• Role of home schooling and distance education

Lesson 4

• Inclusive Learning Experiences and Environments
• Role of teachers and trainers
• Special Education Needs Coordinators
• The physical environment
• Alternative technologies

Lesson 5. Inclusivity in the Workplace

• Diversity and inclusion
• Inclusivity models for the workplace
• Respect
• Sense of belonging
• Empowerment
• Fair chance for career progression
• Physical factors to ensure inclusivity 
• Catering for visual disabilities
• Wheelchair access
• Catering to intellectual disabilities
• Catering for por balance, coordination or fine motor control
• Catering for hearing difficulties
• Support with manual tasks
• Adaptations in tools and equipment
• Physical support
• Understanding ergonomics
• Protective gear
• Hand protection
• Eye protection
• Machine guards
• Floors and walkways
• Recruitment
• Equity and fair pay

Lesson 6.  Independent Living and In Home Support

• Introduction
• Safety factors
• Nutrition
• Important factors in nutrition - ingredients, variety. compatibilty, cooking methods, additional requirements.
• Eating
• Meal preparation
• Cleaning and home care
• People who help - communication, daily activities
• Overnight care sleeping difficulties
• Domestic services
• Transport
• Pet care or assistance pets
• Financial management

Lesson 7.  Health Care and Inclusivity

• What is a need
• Person centred service responses
• Occupational Therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Complimentary Health Services
• Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals
• Psychologists and counsellors
• Supporting diabled people through grief and loss
• Support through health changes and deterioration
• Aging
• Physical changes
• Support through debilitating or terminal illness diagnosis
• Depression
• Safeguarding vulnerable adults
• Physical aids for wellbeing

Lesson 8.  Sport, Leisure and Travel

• Introduction
• Barriers - physical, informational, logistical, psychological
• Effects of inactivity
• Exercise and age
• What happens during and after exercise
• Breathing
• Hydration
• Participation
• Models of Inclusivity in Sport and Activities - TREE model
• Sports and leisure clubs
• Being active in the home
• Health

Lesson 9.  Relationships and Community Participation

• Prejudice
• Autism and relationships
• Friendships
• Maintaining existing friendships
• Family
• Colleagues
• Participation and social inclusion in the wider community
• Getting about - transport
• Romantic relationships
• Online community - grooming, social media assistance

Lesson 10.  Working in Disability Care and Support

• Social care funding
• Employment
• Managing risk and compliance
• Ethics
• Supply, installation and maintenance of aids/equipment 

Course Aims

• Investigate diversity and describe different ways that inclusivity serves for equality of opportunity. 
  
  
• Examine physical support needs and strategies for empowerment. 
  
  
• Examine learning support needs for people with learning differences and strategies for empowerment. 
  
  
• Create Inclusive Learning Experiences and Environments
  
  
• Explain how to create inclusivity in workplaces. 
  
  
• Determine strategies for independence for disabled people in their homes.  
  
  
• Describe how health care services respond to the needs of disabled people
  
  
• Describe how leisure and sporting venues and facilities or transportation cater for the needs of disabled people.
  
  
• Examine social including and community participation for the overall wellbeing of disabled people. 
  
  
• Analyse workplace requirements for safe, ethical, and professional practice in care and support roles.  

Disability is a broad term

Disabilities can be issues of reduced mobility to sensory issues (eg. blindness) through to learning disabilities. Every disabled person faces unique challenges, and their needs for support are just as varied.

People with disabilities haven't been treated well, nor given the same opportunities as people without disabilities. They may have been discriminated against and at various times in history been persecuted, institutionalised, or even imprisoned. Unless cared for by their families, disabled persons could often be found on the fringes of society, unemployed, underpaid, and had little social support.

Today's world has largely changed, with a greater understanding of different disabilities.

The Disability Rights Movement has become a global effort incorporating many different organisations has fought for equal rights and equal opportunities for everyone with a disability. This movement sought to change society’s perception of disability by challenging stereotypes and promoting equal treatment. From the 1960s onwards, disability advocates have brought together people with different kinds of disabilities to argue for all their rights. Many laws and acts have been passed in different countries to protect against discrimination.   

Disability advocates encourage society to shift from a position of merely tolerating disability towards one of actively supporting diversity in others.

This course helps you to appreciate the scope and nature of disability support, and the many practical initiatives that are applied to provide that  support.