Disabilities Studies In Education (Open)

13 April to 7 June 2022          
Next course dates: to be confirmed

classroom

The Disability Studies in Education focuses on disability as a social justice issue, educator support needs, systemic support structures available to educators, and impairment specific support needs of learners with disabilities. 

This course has since 2020 been available as an online short course, worth 15 SACE points and certificated through the School’s Development Unit at UCT.

This course is aimed at educators at school, district and provincial levels who are responsible for supporting the education of learners with severe to profound sensory or intellectual disabilities. This includes members of school and district-based support teams, provincial and district managers, and school principals.

Adopting a holistic approach towards learners with disabilities, the purpose of the course is to:

  • Examine barriers to education for people with disabilities;
  • Explore strategies of educational provision which addresses these barriers;
  • Identify teaching, learning and curriculum strategies that promote disability inclusion at all levels.

The face-to-face course is accompanied by the online course Disability Inclusion in Education: Building Systems of Support.

PAST COURSES (closed)

Navigating D/Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Education: Empowering Teachers

sign language

The Navigating D/deaf and hard of hearing education: Empowering teachers course focuses on the following topics -

  • Develop an understanding of hearing loss and implications for classroom practice
  • Identify and describe barriers to learning for D/deaf and Hard of Hearing learners and how to mitigate these barriers in the classroom
  • Identify appropriate models of D/deaf and Hard of Hearing education
  • Develop an understanding of the broader context in which D/deaf and Hard of Hearing education takes place.

This course is aimed at educators and teaching assistants responsible for supporting the education of D/deaf and hard of hearing learners. This includes members of school and district-based support teams and school principals. Adopting a holistic approach towards learners with disabilities, the purpose of the course is to:

The face-to-face course is accompanied by the online course Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher.

Education and Care of Learners with Severe to Profound Intellectual Disabilities

child and teacher

The Education and Care of Learners with Severe to Profound Intellectual Disabilities course focuses on educating children with intellectual disability, lifelong learning and caregiving and intellectual disability education & Facilitating learning

This course is aimed at individuals working with learners with severe to profound intellectual disabilities, including carers, caregivers, community workers, facilitators, classroom assistants and programme implementers. Adopting a practical skills-based approach, the purpose of the course is to:

  • Provide the basic foundation of knowledge and skills needed to teach and care for learners within a special care centre setting;
  • Help participants gain the skills needed in implementing the Department of Basic Education’s draft learning programme for learners with severe to profound intellectual disabilities;
  • Provide the basic knowledge for disability inclusive development on both a theoretical and practical level. 

The face-to-face course is accompanied by the online course Severe to Profound Intellectual Disability: Circles of Care and Education.

Teaching Learners with Visual Impairment (low vision and blind)

visual impairment studies

The Teaching Learners with Visual Impairment course is focused adopting a holistic approach towards learners with disabilities, the purpose of this course is to provide key knowledge and skills regarding all aspects of basic education for learners with visual impairment, including:

  • Classroom accommodations,
  • Accessible LTSM (learning and teaching support materials),
  • The expanded core curriculum
  • Psycho-social implications, and
  • Understanding disability as a human rights and social justice issue

This course is aimed at teachers based at special, full service and ordinary schools who have, or may in the future have, learners in their classes who are visually impaired. In addition, the course will be of relevance to principals, district officials and members of district-based support teams.

The face-to-face course is accompanied by the online course Teaching Children with Visual Impairment - Creating Empowering Classroom.