Disability and the Family Life Cycle

DSAB

603

Disability and the Family Life Cycle

This course focuses on disability viewed from the perspective of lifespan development and the family life cycle. Students who complete the course will be knowledgeable about: the relationship between Disability Studies, lifespan developmental psychology and the sociology of the family; the use of autobiographical narratives and personal accounts by people with disabilities to address critical issues across the life span; the experience of parents and siblings of a family member with a disability; the pervasiveness of Ableism in the American educational system and its deleterious impact on educational outcomes of children with disabilities; characteristics of successful inclusion efforts, and the relationship between inclusion and school reform; self-determination and family involvement in the transition from school to adult life for youth with disabilities; family life of adults with disabilities including marriage, parenting, caring for aging parents and the death of parents; the importance of social networks in the lives of people with disabilities; approaches to challenging behaviors including autism, and individuals dually diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disorders; use of applied behavioral analysis (ABA) in the treatment of challenging behaviors; the negative impact of stigma on individuals with mental illness and family members and on the delivery of quality mental health services in the community; behavioral and mental health changes associated with aging adults with intellectual disabilities; and using person-centered planning and self-advocacy to improve the quality of life of aging individuals with disabilities.

Spring

Graduate

No