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A Brief Description of Our Programs. The first Canadian university degree program in community rehabilitation & disability studies small, dynamic, hands-on, responding to a field that is constantly changing Inter-disciplinary program, with cross-disability focus. Vision An inclusive community.
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The first Canadian university degree program in community rehabilitation & disability studies • small, dynamic, hands-on, responding to a field that is constantly changing • Inter-disciplinary program, with cross-disability focus
Vision An inclusive community
Mission Challenging theories, assumptions and practices at the intersection of disability, community & rehabilitation through critical analysis, education, innovation and development.
History • 1950s on - rapid development of community services led to need for new kind of human service personnel • 1960s - Community college programs developed - 2-year human service programs in areas child care, mental retardation workers, etc. • 1972 – “National mental retardation manpower model” promotes Career Ladder concept • 1979 - Alberta establishes first disability & community studies University degree programs at University of Calgary
History (continued) • Bachelor’s Degree • Early emphasis on concepts and practices related to developmental disabilities, quality of life, community development • By late 1980s – emphasis is cross-disability, inter-sectoral • Master’s and Doctorate degree programs from beginning – wide range of interest areas • Collaborative models of teaching, service and research with community agencies and organizations of/for persons with disabilities
Our Role • Disability inquiry • Participatory action research • Advocacy for social justice • Teaching and mentoring learners, researchers, and advocates • Fostering critical thinking of rehabilitation practitioners
Undergraduate options • Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation (BCR) Degree- 2 years built-upon a college diploma- 4 years interdisciplinary degree • Joint BCR degree with other degrees (Psychology, Nursing, Education) • Minor in CRDS (Kinesiology, Management) • Specializations for professional certification (Registered Rehabilitation Professional)
Communities of Learners
Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Regional Campuses
BCR Course Emphases • Pre-requisites -history & systems, approaches to community rehabilitation, Introduction to professional conduct (230 hours of practica), communication skills, human science (e.g. biology), health, etc. • 20 one-semester courses in areas of: • Disability Studies • Individual Rehabilitation – • Health & disability – • Senior Community Rehabilitation options - • Specialization - • Management -
Career Options • Community services (e.g. all disability fields including developmental disabilities, mental health, traumatic brain injury, others) • Private sector programs - insurance, workers compensation/ return to work • Education programs - in schools, early intervention, secondary education programs, etc. • Agency managers • Pursue second degree or graduate studies
GRADUATES 2004
Graduate programs • Professional Diploma - for those with another degree wishing orientation to disability and community rehabilitation (8 courses) • Masters degree - course based and thesis based (Pan-Canadian Master’s degree) • Ph.D. - Interdisciplinary or disciplinary base • Graduate students typically have excellent prior experience, and are either pursuing or in leadership positions in community agency, government, educational institutions and so on.
Research - current examples • Senior’s Resiliency • Accessibility for Disabled Employees in the New Economy • Disability in Child Welfare • Collaborative change strategies in reform of mental health services in Russia • Universal Design of Online Learning • Inquiry-Based Inclusive Education
International activity exemplars • Gaza – Education of community workers and educators (1985 – 1999) • International study of self-directed employment (with ILO, DPI) (1992 – ’96) • North American student and faculty exchange programs (1998 – present) • Russia – mental health system transformation (1997 – present) • Bosnia – evaluation of tri-lateral collaboration in developing CBR services (2003 – present) • Leadership in developing Undergraduate program standards through CORE and NCRE (2000 to present)
North American Mobility Exchange Trilateral
The Future? • Small programs are always vulnerable – which means we need to stay nimble • Seeking re-alignment within University from home in Faculty of Education to home in Health Sciences