This one year Level 5 QQI course in Disability Studies with SNA provides a foundation in Disability Studies and provides the opportunity to progress to employment or further study in the Disability Studies area. This programme will enable the learner to work in a variety of settings including national school, secondary school, further education or as a personal assistant. There are applied and theoretical elements to this programme. There will be the opportunity to participate in workshops organised by the College. Learners can avail of the opportunity to go on Erasmus + placements.
This is a one-year full time course and runs from September to May.
Petrina
I recently completed the Programme, Disabilities Studies in Early Childhood Care and Education at the Castlebar College of Further Education. With all the skills and experience provided to me by the tutors I was confident to be able to obtain my present position as a Special Needs Assistant in a preschool. The level of support, encouragement and patience given to me and my class was exceptional and I would highly recommend this college to anyone wanting to expand or change their career path. It has been one of the best investments I have ever made.
There are no fees to study this course.
The learner is introduced to the theory of human development from birth to death. The student will study the life-span of the individual and is offered the opportunity to understand all the developmental stages in depth.
This modules is an applied approach to caring for people with disability. The learner will have the opportunity to practice skills and reflect on same with individual clients in the workplace.
The learner is required to complete 60 hours of placement which is approximately 10 days. The placement can be in a National School, a Secondary School or any other care provider such as Western Care, Enable Ireland.
The learner is enabled to improve their communication skills in a variety of ways and also to enhance their personal development.
The learner is offered the opportunity to understand the area of Intellectual Disability. 10% of the Disability population are people with an Intellectual Disability. The student will study current research and the best models of care for people within this community
Within this module, learners will study disability in general and look at the categorisation of disability such as physical; sensory; emotional; behavioural. The student will also be offered the opportunity to investigate their future role as an SNA/Personal Assistant and reflect on same.
The learner will be offered the opportunity to study the role of the family in society in detail, here they will look at family patterns, functions, relationships, approaches to parenting and will investigate services for families experiencing issues.
Here the Student will be provided with opportunities to look at the role of an SNA in depth including emphasis on the applied area of this role.