Target Group: Non-Academic Staff members
Duration: Notional Hours: 150, Contact Hours: 50 (16 weeks)
Course Description: This course introduces administrative staff members to dominant frameworks of conceptualizing disability. It challenges staff to re-think their understandings and assumptions of disability through interactive activities and encounters. It introduces staff members with basic disability etiquette in order to ensure that their interactions with students and staff with disabilities are sensitive and respectful. Staff will be encouraged to critically assess common practices, procedures and protocols in their divisions and departments to test for accessibility and usability as per the Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The course will be supplemented with a University Disability Handbook. Staff members will be well acquainted with the content and provisions of the handbook upon course completion. The course provides staff with an overview of the disability related services, personnel and programmes available at the university. It will provide a solid understanding of the wider structural and procedural supports available to students with disabilities. They will be conversant with basic procedures and services relating to students with disabilities and will be able to respond to the needs to students or direct them to other appropriate service providers within the university system.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify different models and socio-cultural frameworks of disability.
- Apply disability etiquette and best practices when interacting with students and staff with disabilities.
- Understand key legal and normative frameworks of disability
- Standardize administrative systems and procedures in line with Universal Design of Instruction (UDI).
- Endeavor to ensure that university spaces including the library, public areas and on and off campus accommodation facilities are inclusive and accessible.
- Gain knowledge and skills to support students with disabilities in a proactive and equitable manner
Course Content
| Disability: Fact or Myth |
| Understanding Disability: Models, Concepts and Frameworks |
| Diversity and Inclusion |
| Disability Etiquette |
| ‘Unfair Advantage’? :Disability Simulation and Q&A |
| Mental Health and Wellbeing |
| Equality, Equity and Diversity |
| Disability Rights: Policy and Legal Frameworks |
| Reasonable Accommodation |
| Universal Design of Learning (UDL): Standardization of systems and procedures |
| Disability Inclusive Technology |
| Disability Inclusive University Services (including library, career and counseling services) |
| Cultivating inclusive learning environments: Accessibility and Design |
| Disability inclusive accommodation: on and off campus |
| Rights and Responsibilities of Faculty, Staff and Students |
| Disability Officers: Roles and Functions |
Methods of Teaching and Learning
- Workshops
- Lectures
- Academic Staff Presentations
- Student Mentoring
- Human Library
- Video Presentations
- Mock Access Audit/ Disability Simulation
- Discussions/ Q&A
Resource Persons
Ms. Niluka Gunewardena
MA, University of Leeds, UK
Course Coordinator
Ms. Dinusha Wickremesekere
MSc, Heriot-Watt University, UK
Lecturer, Royal Institute of Colombo
Ms. Rekha Aththidiye
Clinical Psychologist
MPhil, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dr. Shyamini Hettiarachchi
PhD, City University, UK
Senior Lecturer, Department of Disability Studies, University of Kelaniya
Ms. Lasanthi Daskon
Attorney-at-Law; MA, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Deputy Country Director, The International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Ms. Manique Gunarathne
Manager, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre, The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon
Mr. Madushan Lankathilake
BSc, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka
Library representative of the Faculty of Technology & Faculty of Nursing
Mr. Kasun Nayanajith
BA, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Temporary Computer Instructor (Special Needs), University of Sri Jayawardenapura