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

  1. Identify different models and socio-cultural frameworks of disability.
  2. Apply disability etiquette and best practices when interacting with students and staff with disabilities.
  3. Understand key legal and normative frameworks of disability
  4. Standardize administrative systems and procedures in line with Universal Design of Instruction (UDI).
  5. Endeavor to ensure that university spaces including the library, public areas and on and off campus accommodation facilities are inclusive and accessible.
  6. 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

 

 

If you are interested to take part in this course, please register using the link below and we will contact you when we commence the course next.

Click here to register