| CODE | DBS5016 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Contested Labels in Disability | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Disability Studies | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will discuss the wide variety of what are considered to be hidden disabilities, such as epilepsy, fibromyalgia, mental health issues, chronic pain and learning difficulties. Although disability studies tend to move away from exclusively viewing disability from a medical perspective and focus instead on the social barriers that disabled people with different impairments face in the different aspects of their lives, it is important that students understand that there are specific issues that are related to specific impairment groups. The issue of the relationality between biological impairment and social disablement will be presented in the form of real life case studies, critically analysed and debated in class. The students’ work roles will be reflected upon and an application of the lessons learnt with regard to people with hidden impairments will be carried out. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to introduce students to the various impairments that are currently categorised as ‘hidden’ or ‘invisible’ and their specific impairment-related needs. Students will also have the opportunity to discuss the societal barriers that these people meet with in their daily lives and learn about national and international policy and practice that supports them in their daily lives. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Outline the wide variety of disabilities currently categorised as ‘hidden’ or ‘invisible’. - Describe the specific impairment-related needs related to people with hidden disabilities, such as issues regarding disclosure and identity. - Understand the socially-created barriers that people with hidden disabilities meet with in different aspects of daily life, such as bullying and stigma. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Distinguish between biological impairment and social disablement in the context of hidden disabilities. - Analyse the socio-material challenges that are particular to people with hidden disabilities and compare/contrast to those of people with other disabilities. - Critically examine case studies/life stories of people with hidden disabilities and debate in class. - Propose political and practical strategies and tools that are available for people with hidden disabilities to support them in their participation in society. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Brookes, S., Broady, R. and Calvert, L. 2008. Hidden Disabilities: Preliminary Report. Available from: https://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/library/brookes-NUJ-Hidden-disabilities-Report-plus-Lena.pdf - Crawford, V. 2001. Embracing the Monster: Overcoming the Challenges of Hidden Disabilities. Paul H Brookes Pub. Co. - Oliver, M. 1996. DEFINING IMPAIRMENT AND DISABILITY: ISSUES AT STAKE . Chapter 3 (in 'Exploring the Divide', edited by Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer, Leeds: The Disability Press, pp.29 -54). https://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/library/Oliver-ex-div-ch3.pdf - Thomas, C. 2007. Sociologies of Disability, ‘Impairment,’ and Chronic Illness: Ideas in Disability Studies and Medical Sociology. London: Palgrave. Supplementary Readings: - Carrye, S. 2019. Invisible disabilities: perceptions and barriers to reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Library Management, Vol. 40 Issue: 1/2, pp.113-120. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-10-2017-0101 - Charmaz, K. 2010. Disclosing illness and disability in the workplace. Journal of International Education in Business, Vol. 3 Issue: 1/2, pp.6-19. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1108/18363261011106858 - Thomas, P., Gradwell L. and Markham, N. 1997. Defining Impairment within the Social Model of Disability. (This is article appeared in GMCDP’S Coalition Magazine July 1997). Available from: https://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/library/thomas-pam-Defining-Impairment-within-the-Social-Model-of-Disability.pdf |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Amy Joan Camilleri Zahra Maria Victoria Gauci |
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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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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