Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE DBS2002

 
TITLE Disability Issues in Social Policy and Social Work

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

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 3

 
DEPARTMENT Disability Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit explores issues that are of concern to disabled people and their families, how these issues are influenced and responded to by society in general, and how they can impact social policy and social work with disabled people. The aim of the unit is to make social policy and social work students aware of the socially-constructed disabling barriers that have a negative effect on the daily lives of disabled people and their families, and of how, as future professionals, they can work to help dismantle these barriers.

The unit begins with a theoretical grounding of the different models of disability with special emphasis on the social model of disability, and a history of the development of the disability rights movement in Malta and abroad. This theoretical aspect is then applied to the personal experience of disability as it is lived by people with different impairments as well as parents of disabled persons in areas such as education, employment, and independent living.

Study-unit Aims:

The aim of the study-unit is to make social policy and social work students aware of the socially-constructed disabling barriers that have a negative effect on the daily lives of disabled people and their families, and of how, as future professionals, they can work to help dismantle these barriers.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Define different perspectives and models of disability;
- Explore some of the root causes of the fear and prejudice which individuals and society have for disabled persons;
- Develop a personal understanding of how they can help reduce these inequalities through their professional practice.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Apply the theoretical aspect of disability perspectives into their everyday practice with disabled people through professional attitudes that empower rather than control;
- Analyse current support services that disabled people receive and identify ways that can influence future policy that enables disabled people to have a better quality of life through these services;
- Apply the acquired knowledge to advocate for/with disabled people in the fields of social work and social policy.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Barnes, C. 2002. Emancipatory disability research’: project or process?. Journal of research in special educational needs, 2 (1), [no page numbers]. [Accessed 17th June 2011]. Available from http://0-www.blackwell-synergy.com.wam.leeds.ac.uk /doi/ full/10.
- Barnes, C. and Mercer, G. (2003) Disability London: Polity.
- Barnes, C. and Mercer, G. (2010) Exploring Disability. Second Edition. Cambridge: Polity.
- Barnes, C. & Oliver, M. (2012) (2nd Edition) The New Politics of Disablement. Palgrave McMillan.
- Barnes, C., Oliver, M. and Barton, L. (Eds) (2002) Disability Studies Today London: Polity.
- Campbell, J. and Oliver, M. (1996) Disability Politics: understanding our past, changing our future London: Routledge.
- French, S. & Swain, J. (2011) Working with Disabled People in Policy and Practice: A social model Palgrave McMillan.
- Goodley, D. 2000. Self-advocacy in the lives of people with learning difficulties. Buckingham: Open University Press.
- Goodley, D. 2011. Disability Studies: an interdisciplinary introduction. London: Sage.
- Morris, J. (1991) Pride Against Prejudice London: The Women’s Press.
- Oliver, M. (2009)(2nd Edition) Understanding Disability: from theory to practice London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Oliver, M., Sapey, B., & Thomas, P. (2012) (4th Edition). Social Work with Disabled People (Practical Social Work Series)Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Roulstone, A. & Prideaux, S. (2012) Understanding Disability Policy (Understanding Welfare: Social Issues, Policy and Practice Series). Policy Press.
- Shakespeare, T. (2013) Disability Rights and Wrongs Revisited Routledge.
- Swain, J., French, S., Barnes, C., and Thomas, C. (Eds) (2004) Disabling Barriers Enabling Environments London: Sage.

Internet Sources:

- Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b’Diżabilità website: http://www.knpd.org/
- UK Disability Archive: http://www.disability-archive.leeds.ac.uk/. Hosted by the Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

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

 
LECTURER/S Claire Lucille Azzopardi Lane
Anne-Marie Callus
Amy Joan Camilleri Zahra

 

 
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