Postgraduate Course: Understanding Learning Disability (CLPS11027)
Course Outline
| School | School of Health in Social Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Clinical Psychology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Providing a high-quality service to people with a learning disability requires a critical understanding of the context and values in which the service operates. This course aims to increase understanding of the issues underpinning service to people with a learning disability. The course will begin by analysing the definition of learning disability and what it means to those to whom this label is applied in terms of their cognitive capacities. We will then critically appraise the communication needs of people with a learning disability and examine how communication can be improved by interventions at individual, environmental and organisational levels.
We will build on this knowledge through an examination of the social and policy context within which learning disability is defined and the way this has shaped service provision over time. These factors also shape the value base that underpins service provision and the balance that must be struck between promoting choice for people with a learning disability and fulfilling our duty of care. We will investigate how improving knowledge and understanding of learning disability can contribute to getting this balance right.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course the students should have the ability to:
&·construct a clear definition of learning disability, incorporating associated cognitive capacities and needs of the clients
&·identify the range of communication needs of people with a learning disability and critically appraise the extent to which the students meet the needs of those they support at an individual, environmental and organisational level
&·identify the value base that underpins the their current service provision and evaluate this within a social, policy and historical context
&·design strategies within their own service which take into account the cognitive, communication and cultural context of their clients
&·illustrate the application of the concepts of duty of care and informed choice to their own practice
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Assessment Information
Assignment 1 $ú cognitive profile (25%)
The student will create a cognitive profile of their chosen client, outline the difficulties presented by the cognitive impairments reported in the profile and develop strategies for overcoming these difficulties in order to improve the service provided to this person. These strategies should relate specifically to the selected individual and include practical examples of how you would apply them.
(1000 words +/- 20%)
Assignment 2 $ú communication profile (25%)
For this assignment, the student will describe the person's communication skills, with reference to the evidence base, how communication strategies can be modified to enhance communication and how they would measure the success of the modifications.
(1000 words +/- 20%)
Assignment 3 - values analysis (50%)
This assignment asks the students to formulate a model of the value base of the service in which they work and compare this to a value-based model drawn from current literature. They will be asked to illustrate any potential challenges in applying their value base model in practice with the person discussed in assignments one and two. These challenges might include, for example, misinterpretation, lack of resources, or aspects of informal workplace culture. Design strategies to address these challenges.
(2000 words +/- 20%)
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Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
The course is delivered entirely online via WebCT Vista. Teaching methods will include moderated asynchronous group discussion, guided reading, self-study, online role-play activities, self-reflection and case presentations. Participants will also be supported by e-mail and Skype conferencing. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Karen Mckenzie
Tel: (0131 6)51 3953
Email: karen.mckenzie@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Joanna Claydon
Tel: (0131 6)51 3967
Email: Jo.Claydon@ed.ac.uk |
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