Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE DBS2206

 
TITLE Building Inclusive Communities

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

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Disability Studies

 
DESCRIPTION The term ‘inclusive communities’ has increasingly featured in recent years, at policy, practice and theoretical levels drawing from an array of disciplinary standpoints including disability studies. In this study-unit we will explore the notions and discourses that construct community.

The ideas and theories of association and associated life, social capital, civic community and the phenomenon of globalization will all be engaged with critically, especially with regard to the inclusion of disabled people in community life. The notion of community development and social constructions of community are most certainly crucial in the representation and debates surrounding the contentious issues around inclusive community development. The study-unit will reflect on how social operators need to develop mechanisms by which communities can include those who are marginalized, with specific reference to disabled people.

Study-Unit Aims:

- To foster understanding of the concept of community and community inclusion;
- To foster understanding of the role of citizens in the safeguarding of all members of the community, including disabled people;
- To develop a basic understanding of community development theory and its application to the community inclusion of disabled people;
- To explore ways how social operators may become engaged in developing inclusive communities with specific focus on the inclusion of disabled people.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- explore theoretical and applied concepts of community and inclusive community development;
- identify methods of managing community and regeneration practices which take into account disabled people's concerns;
- acquire a critical understanding of the broader socio-cultural, political, historical and policy context which underlie the development of inclusive communities including disabled people.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- analyse community dynamics and identify the factors that help or hinder the inclusion of disabled people;
- critically appraise the inclusivity of different spaces and communities with special reference to the needs of disabled people;
- propose methods for the engagement of all citizens, including disabled people, in community development practices.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Azzopardi, A. & Grech, S. (2012). Inclusive communities: A critical reader. UK Sense Publishers.
- Azzopardi, A. (2011). Conceptualising discursive communities: Developing community in contemporary society. The International Journal of Inclusive Education (IJIE) 15, No 1: 179-192.
- Bauman, Z. (2001). Seeking safety in an insecure world. Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Disability Rights UK Research Report on Inclusive Communities (2014)
Available at http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/sites/default/files/pdf/3.%20InclusiveCommunitiesResearch.pdf

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Andrew Azzopardi

 

 
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