| CODE | DBS2215 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Hidden Disabilities | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Disability Studies | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces students to the specific impairment-related needs of people with hidden (or invisible) disabilities. It will provide them with a forum where they can discuss common and different barriers that these people meet with in their daily lives and learn about solutions that are available locally and internationally to support them. Study-Unit Aims: Although disability studies tend to move away from exclusively viewing disability from a medical perspective, and focus instead on the social barriers that disable people with impairments 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. In this case, the study-unit aims to discuss the wide variety of what are considered to be hidden disabilities, such as epilepsy, fibromyalgia, mental health issues, chronic pain, learning difficulties and the issue of the relationality between biological impairment and social disablement. It also aims to critically analyse and apply this relationality to the context of these people’s life activities including education, employment and recreation. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Define hidden (or invisible) disabilities and describe the wide variety of such disabilities as per contemporary disability studies literature. - Outline the specific impairment-related needs of people with hidden disabilities which delineate them from other impairment groups. - Understand the social barriers that people with hidden disabilities meet with in different aspects of daily life e.g. the stigma that is associated with the non-visibility of their impairment. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss the relation between biological impairment and social disablement in the context of hidden disabilities and apply this concept to various sectors in their life such as education and employment. - Analyse the socio-material challenges that are particular to people with hidden disabilities and compare/contrast with those of people with other disabilities. - Discuss international and local strategies and tools (political and practical) that are available for people with hidden disabilities to support them in their participation in educational, employment and recreational activities. - Critically evaluate life experiences of a person with hidden disabilities and present their evaluation in a 20 minute presentation to the rest of the class. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - 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, 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 - 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. - Taylor, S. 1999. Living Well With a Hidden Disability: Transcending Doubt and Shame and Reclaiming Your Life. New Harbinger Pubns. Inc. - 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 - 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. Supplementary Readings: - Brilliant Idiot: An Autobiography of a Dyslexic, Dr. Abraham Schmitt - Reversals, Eileen Simpson - Learning Disabilities and Life Stories, Pano Rodis - The Human Side of Dyslexia, Shirley Kurnoff - Learning Outside the Lines, Jonathan Mooney and David Cole |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Maria Victoria Gauci Ryan Portelli |
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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 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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