Developmental Services Worker Courses

In this course, students will be introduced to academic writing styles with a thematic focus on current issues. This course will help students to express themselves clearly and correctly in written form. Students will critically analyse assigned readings and express their thoughts. The course will also focus on the development of an academic paper utilizing the APA style of documentation.

Students will examine the role of the developmental services worker in relation to field placement expectations. Policies, processes, roles, responsibilities and expectations will be examined and discussed. Values, ethics, competencies, and requirements will be explored in classroom exercises and assignments. Note: Students will require additional mandatory training as part of the preparation process for fieldwork and in order to complete required assignments for this course.

This course will provide the student with multi-disciplinary information about developmental disabilities. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the causes of and conditions of disabilities as well as the current paradigms of practice.

Students will learn a variety of pharmacology competencies, as well as the related theory for specific body systems and the drugs that affect each system. The students will demonstrate procedures for the administration of medications through practical applications within the classroom. Considerations for administering medications for individuals with a disability will be the focus.

Students will explore foundational concepts in applied behaviour analysis. They will learn to assess the need for behaviour intervention as well as gain the skills required to develop and implement positive behavioural support strategies and plans across a variety of professional settings.

Students will learn a variety of health care competencies as well as the related theory for healthy living. The students will be required to demonstrate competencies through practical applications within the classroom.

In this course, students will enhance their communication skills as needed in the community services field. They will acquire the skills necessary to write memos, letters, email, informal reports and proposals and presentations that meet the professional standards in the community services field. Students will combine collaborative methods with advanced research, written and oral skills to produce and present an infographic.

Students will be provided with an understanding of the principles and applications of techniques designed to assist persons who have been labelled. The focus will be hands on learning about how to improve accessibility, along with how to modify tasks/activities for improving all aspects of daily living.

Students will be provided an overview of mental health diagnosis and the interventions/treatments currently used to promote successful inclusion in the community. As well, the student will learn about the nature of dual diagnosis and the need for coordinated system of supports and services for individuals with a disability.

In this course students will examine person centered approaches in order to support individuals with skills to live as independently as possible. Specific best practices in planning and support will be covered.

Students will be involved in 14 weeks of placement in community based agencies. Agency placements provide the student with experience supporting people with disabilities across the lifespan. Students will be in field placement three days a week with supervision from agency mentors and faculty supervisors.

This course explores life from a chronological perspective, beginning from conception, then moving through the stages of infancy, childhood, and concluding with adolescence. Each developmental period will be examined in relation to physical, motor, cognitive, social-emotional, and biological factors that affect development.

In this course, students will examine historical development and current political and ideological influences on the social welfare system in Canada. This course also examines contemporary challenges being experienced by Canadians living within the social welfare system and role of the professions of Social Work and Social Service Work in assisting with addressing those challenges.

This course will build on the students' knowledge of disabilities and the current issues of importance in the field. Community services and resources will also be explored.

Students will assess, design, implement and evaluate behavioural plans when supporting individuals with challenging behaviour. Emphasis will be on the application of advanced applied behavioural analysis skills, learned in DS234 Applied Behaviour Analysis.

Students will examine typical and atypical language development, augmentative communication, and best practices in the use of assistive technology. This course will use a blend of theory with hands on development of techniques necessary to support people at home, work or in school.

Students will be involved in a school based placement for 14 weeks. The school environment will provide the student with an opportunity to observe and practice the competencies that are required in the role of a Student Support Person.

Students will examine the learning styles of students with special needs. Included for study are approaches to inclusive education, instructional strategies, adaptation of learning activities and observational skills.

In this course students will be provided with the opportunity to develop basic professional "helping skills". This is an introductory course where students will learn a critical set of competencies for use in their field of practice. Students will be challenged to apply theoretical concepts in classroom role plays and skill building exercises.

In this course, students will engage in the community development process by developing collaborative relationships with the disability sector to generate solutions to identified community needs. The focus will be to promote community wellbeing at a grassroots level to promote change and to advocate for quality life outcomes for individuals who have been labelled by society. Students will develop a community development project with emphasis on facilitating positive, value based attitudes to teach about inclusive practices. Students will also have opportunities for collaborative teamwork within and outside the classroom to practice the principles of community development and to act as agents of change when addressing the current social and political conditions in the disability sector.