| CODE | DBS2211 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Providing Equal Access to Disabled People | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Disability Studies | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Historically, people with different impairments have been absent from mainstream life in the community. Socio-cultural forces have played an important role in this exclusion, but so has lack of accessibility to essential services which non-disabled people take for granted. This distinct study-unit will focus on the key theme of Equal Access and will present the concept of equality in relation to the multiplicity of options which are available in mainstream society. It will build on other study-units that were presented in Year 1 and 2 but will also focus on the tools and instruments available to disabled people in their struggle to attain equality of access. Finally, the unit will introduce students to the concept and application of universal design principles as a possible instrument of change. It will therefore focus away from the individual struggle to a discussion of the changes which society needs to undertake in order to ensure genuine equality of access for all, including people with different impairments. Study-Unit Aims: - To introduce students to the concept of equality, especially to distinguish between 'equality' and 'sameness'; - To provide an introduction to different aspects of accessibility as required by people with different impairments; - To introduce students to the principles of reasonable accommodation and their implementation in practice; - To introduce students to the principles of universal design as a possible solution to addressing inequalities in society; - To develop strategies to effectively address inequality in both the individual and society. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between 'equality' and 'sameness'; - Identify the major social manifestations of accessibility; - Identify different types of reasonable accommodation in the main areas in community life where accessibility plays a vital part in a disabled person's attainment of equality; - Define 'universal design', its principles and identify how they can be applied as a possible solution to addressing inequalities in society. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Communicate clearly and critically their own struggle with equality of access; - Provide a clear overview of the main currents within Maltese society which impact upon a disabled person's equal and fair access to the mainstream of society; - Provide a coherent and interesting presentation about the different strategies that provide accessibility for all members of society; - Use the knowledge gained to propose effective changes to improve equality of access for disabled people in the Maltese islands. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Laws of Malta (1969): Persons with Disability (Employment) Act (Cap. 210). Amended by: XXVI.1995.2. - Laws of Malta (1988): Education Act (Cap.327). Amended. - Laws of Malta (2000): Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability. Amended 2012 EN). - Camilleri, J.M (1995): Equal Opportunities Legislation and Accessibility for All. Letters to the Editor: The Sunday Times (of Malta). (a) Victor Formosa, General Manager, Eden Century Film Centre 23rd April, 1995 and (b) Joseph M. Camilleri, Chair, Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b'Dizabilità, Malta, 27th April, 1995. - KNPD (2007): Rights, Not Charity: Guidelines towards an inclusive society and a positive difference in the lives of Maltese and Gozitan disabled people. URL: www.knpd.org. - KNPD (2011): Equal Opportunities Compliance Unit (Fact sheet). Kummisjoni Nazzjonali Persuni 'Dizabilita'. St. Venera, Malta. URL: www.knpd.org. - KNPD (2011): Access for All Design Guidelines. 3rd Edition. Kummisjoni Nazzjonali Persuni 'Dizabilita'. St. Venera, Malta. URL: www.knpd.org. - United Nations (2006): Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study, Project and Seminar | ||||||||||||||||
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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 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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