Certificate of Disability Support

Unit 1 – Nature and Scope of Disability Support

• Changing perceptions
• Characteristics of disability support workers
• Changing perceptions
• Models of disability
• Medical model
• Social model
• Definitions of disability
• Key terminology
• Human rights
• Underpinning human rights values – fairness, respect, equality, dignity, autonomy
• Diversity in the social context
• What equality means for those with disabilities
• Inclusivity and disabilities
• What influences inclusion
• Socio economic influences
• Life skills development

Unit 2 – Nature of Physical Disabilities

• Sensory disabilities
• Sight
• Deaf/blindness
• Physical mobility disabilities
• Cerebral palsy
• Muscular dystrophy
• Motor neurone disease (MND)
• Amputees, paraplegia, hemiplegia and quadriplegia
• Chronic pain and arthritis
• Osteo-conditions
• Neurological disorders – Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis
• Speech disorders
• Speech and language therapy
• Providing individualised support

Unit 3 – Nature of Learning Differences

• What is a learning difference
• Dyslexia
• Dysgraphia
• Dyscalculia
• Dyspraxia
• Dysphasia
• Developmental language disorder
• Auditory processing disorder
• Visual perceptual motor disorder
• Non verbal learning disorder
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Intellectual disability
• How learning differences are identified and diagnosed
• Importance of early diagnosis/screening
• Who diagnoses
• When do diagnoses occur
• Who authorises in school and/or assessment judgements
• Provide individualised support
• Common whole school procedural/policy adjustments
• Common class adjustments
• Aspects to include
• Common assessment adjustments
• Role of home schooling and distance education

Unit 4 – Inclusive Learning Experiences and Environments

• Role of teachers and trainers
• Medical devices to support learners with significant physical disabilities
• The role of the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator in school settings
• Special Education Needs Coordinators
• The physical environment
• Setting up a sensory room in schools, at home or in the workplace
• Alternative technologies

Unit 5 – Inclusivity in the Workplace

• Diversity and inclusion
• Inclusivity models for the workplace
• Respect
• Sense of belonging
• Empowerment
• Fair chance for career progression
• Physical factors to ensure inclusivity
• Catering for visual disabilities
• Wheelchair access
• Catering to intellectual disabilities
• Catering for poor balance, coordination or fine motor control
• Catering for hearing difficulties
• Support with manual tasks
• Adaptations in tools and equipment
• Physical support
• Understanding ergonomics
• Protective gear
• Hand protection
• Eye protection
• Machine guards
• Floors and walkways
• Recruitment
• Equity and fair pay

Unit 6 – Independent Living and In Home Support

• Safety factors
• Nutrition
• Important factors in nutrition
• Ingredients, compatibility, cooking methods, additional requirements.
• Eating
• Meal preparation
• Cleaning and home care
• People who help – communication, daily activities
• Overnight care sleeping difficulties
• Domestic services
• Transport
• Pet care or assistance pets
• Financial management

Unit 7 – Health Care and Inclusivity

• What is a need?
• Person centred service responses
• Occupational therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Complimentary health services
• Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals
• Psychologists and counsellors
• Supporting disabled people through grief and loss
• Support through health changes and deterioration
• Health changes and deterioration due to aging
• Physical changes
• Support through debilitating or terminal illness diagnosis
• Strategies during health changes
• Depression
• Safeguarding vulnerable adults
• Cultural safety in practice
• Physical aids for wellbeing

Unit 8 – Sport, Leisure and Travel

• Barriers – physical, informational, logistical, psychological
• Effects of inactivity
• Exercise and age
• What happens during and after exercise
• Breathing
• Hydration
• Loss of total body fluid
• Participation
• Models of Inclusivity in sport and activities – TREE model
• Sports and leisure clubs
• Being active in the home
• Health

Unit 9 – Relationships and Community Participation

• Prejudice
• Autism and relationships
• Friendships
• Maintaining existing friendships
• Family
• Colleagues
• Romantic relationships
• Online community – grooming, social media assistance
• Participation and social inclusion in the wider community
• Getting about – transport

Unit 10 – Working in Disability Care and Support

• Employment
• Care work
• Administrative roles
• Allied health
• Supply, installation and maintenance of aids/equipment
• Future opportunities
• Setting an agreement
• Insurance
• Screening requirements for workers
• Managing risk and compliance
• Moving & handling people
• Hoists, transfer aids, transport aids
• Helping a client to sit from a standing position:
• Rolling and repositioning a client in bed:
• To move the person to their other side using a slide sheet:
• Keeping a logbook
• Social care funding
• Ethics and standards in disability work