Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE DBS2001

 
TITLE Legislation: A Force for Social Change

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Disability Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will introduce students to the influence that legislation has on the lives of disabled people, with a focus on the Equal Opportunities Act (2000). The unit will trace the journey of the disabled people's movement from segregation to charity and welfare to rights. Important national and international historical developments related to this journey will be discussed and an analysis of the underpinnings of current disability legislation worldwide will be carried out.

The local Equal Opportunities Law (2000) as well as the UNCRPD and their respective implications will be discussed in detail. During the lectures important issues will be raised for debate : Who are disabled people? What rights do disabled people have in practice? Are laws sufficient to fight discrimination?

Case studies will be used to illustrate good and bad practices in the implementation of the law. Contributions from disabled people and their families will be included in the final part of the study-unit to highlight topics discussed during the lectures. This is essential for students to learn how disability discrimination impacts on the life of disabled people.

Study-unit Aims

This study-unit aims to give students a comprehensive insight into the different theoretical approaches to disability and so provide the necessary tools with which to critically evaluate current legislation for disabled people.

1. To explore different definitions of disability
2. To identify the different historical developments that HAVE influenced disabled people's journey to rights
3. To outline the different disability related legislation in Malta and other countries
4. To illustrate and analyse the practical implications of these laws on disabled people's lives, e.g. in education, employment, housing.
5. To expose students to 'listening' to disabled people's stories of discrimination and construct alternative solutions to achieve a satisfactory outcome

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
1.1 define different understandings and models of disability;
1.2 underline the major milestones in the journey of the Disabled People's Movement to rights;
1.3 outline the different inter/national legislation related to disability rights;
1.4 analyse the different applications of these laws in the lives of disabled people;
1.5 comprehend how anti-discrimination legislation is implemented in practice.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
2.1 appraise different cases of disability discrimination;
2.2 debate about the theoretical and practical implications of such situations, looking beyond individual solutions;
2.3 apply and propose different/alternative solutions to these case-studies;
2.4 apply the principles of Universal Design and accessibility;
2.5 apply the principles of reasonable accommodation and progressive realisation.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings

Main Texts:
- Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - ADA - 42 U.S. Code Chapter 126.
- Disability Discrimination Act (1995). London: HMSO.
- Malta Equal Opportunities (Disabled people) Act. (2000) Chapter 413.
- United Nations. (2006). Convention on the Rights of Disabled people. Resolution 61/106. New York : United Nations.
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
- www.knpd.org/legislation

Supplementary Readings:
- Barnes, C. & Mercer, G. (2003). Disability (Key Concepts). Cambridge:Polity Press.
- Barton, L. (2001). Disability, Politics & the Struggle for Change. London:David Fulton Publishers.
- Boyce W. et al. (2001). A Seat at the Table. Montreal:McGill-Queen's University Press.
- Council of Europe. (1996). Revised European Social Charter. CE: Strasbourg.
- Council of Europe. (2000). Council of the European Union Directive establishing a General Framework for Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation. Council Directive 2000/78/EC.
- Doyle, B.J.(2008). Disability discrimination: law and practice. 6th Edition.Jordan Publishing (GB).
- Heap,M., Lorenzo, T., and Thomas, J. (2009). ‘We’ve moved away from disability as a health issue, it’s a human rights issue’: reflecting on 10 years of the right to equality in South Africa. Disability & Society. Vol. 24, No. 7, December 2009, 857-868.
- Lawson, A. (2008). Disability and Equality Law in Britain : The Role of Reasonable Adjustment. Portland, Oregon:Hart Publishing.
- National Commission Disabled people. (2009). National Policy for Employment.
- Scotch, R.K. (2001). From Goodwill to Civil Rights : Transforming Federal Disability Policy Philadelphia:Temple University Press.
- Shah S. & Priestley M. (2010). Disability and Social Change : Private Lives and Public Policies. Bristol:The Policy Press.
- World Health Organisation. (2011). World Report on Disability, p.239;240 . WHO:Geneva.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Joseph M. Camilleri

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit