History of Course

 

Foundations in Community Disability Studies, was first developed in

2005. It was a collaborative effort of post-secondary, government, and service

providers, in the province of Alberta. It is copyrighted to the Alberta Council

of Disability Services (ACDS) and is coordinated out of their offices in

Calgary.

 

Building on 13 years of experience with the Basic Skills Training 

(BST) program we have kept the same successful Tutor supported in-service

training model, but are now offering a more comprehensive work-based learning

program. It is practical in focus and designed to teach real skills for the

workplace. 

 

It has become a benchmark with the industry and is quickly being

accepted as required training for all entry level Community Disability Services

Workers without previous related training or education. 

 

About the Course

This course provides a comprehensive orientation to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed by staff in today's world. This is just the beginning of a challenging and rewarding career.

 

The course is broken down into 18 Modules:

 

Module 1: The Evolving Field of Community Disability Studies

 

• Unit 1: Development of Community Disability Services
• Unit 2: Role of Government and Community Boards

 

 

Module 2: Legislation and Human Rights Protection

 

• Unit 1: Development of Human Rights Legislation in Canada
• Unit 2: Human Rights Legislation in Alberta

 

 

Module 3: Values and Attitudes

 

• Unit 1: Professional Values and Beliefs
• Unit 2: Examining Your Values and Beliefs

 

 

Module 4: Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Unit 1: Getting to Know the Person
• Unit 2: Promoting Personal Growth and Self-Determination
• Unit 3: Building Community
• Unit 4: Recognizing and Taking Action in Abusive Situations

 

 

Module 5: Definitions and Characteristics of Some Common Disabilities

 

• Unit 1: Understanding a Disability Label
• Unit 2: Developmental Disabilities
• Unit 3: Physical Disabilities
• Unit 4: Emotional and Behavioural Disorders
• Unit 5: Health Impairments

 

 

Module 6: Safety Issues

 

• Unit 1: Safe Environments
• Unit 2: First Aid
• Unit 3: Emergency Plans and Procedures

 

 

Module 7: Ergonomics for Safe Lifting and Transferring

 

• Unit 1: The Back
• Unit 2: Body Mechanics
• Unit 3: Back Injury
• Unit 4: Lifts and Transfers

 

 

Module 8: Adaptive Equipment

 

• Unit 1: Clothing and Kitchen Aids
• Unit 2: Communication Aids
• Unit 3: Mobility Aids
• Unit 4: Assistive Devices

 

 

Module 9: Universal Precautions and Infection Control

 

• Unit 1: The Chain of Infection
• Unit 2: Routine Practices of Universal Precautions
• Unit 3: Serious Diseases Requiring Extra Precautions
• Unit 4: Keeping Yourself Healthy

 

 

Module 10: Personal Hygiene Support

 

• Unit 1: Core Values
• Unit 2: Personal Hygiene Procedures
• Unit 3: Repositioning

 

 

Module 11: Mealtimes and Nutrition

 

• Unit 1: Wellness and Nutrition
• Unit 2: Mealtimes
• Unit 3: Assisting with Eating and Positioning
• Unit 4: Non-Nutritive Mealtime Program
• Unit 5: Safe Food Handling

 

 

Module 12: Promoting Wellness

 

• Unit 1: Healthy Choices to Maintain or Promote Wellness
• Unit 2: Observing Changes Related to Physical Wellness
• Unit 3: Emotional Health and Mental Illness
• Unit 4: Documentation
• Unit 5: Epilepsy
• Unit 6: Sensory Integration

 

 

Module 13: Facilitating Growth and Skill Development

 

• Unit 1: The Planning Process
• Unit 2: Facilitating Learning
• Unit 3: Data Collecting and Graphing
• Unit 4: Developing New Skills for Living in the Community

 

 

Module 14: Interpersonal Communication

 

• Unit 1: Verbal Communication
• Unit 2: Non-Verbal Communication
• Unit 3: Constructive Communications in Difficult Situations

 

 

Module 15: Professional Communication Skills

 

• Unit 1: Effective Written Communication
• Unit 2: Effective Meeting Participation
• Unit 3: Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution

 

 

Module 16: Personal and Professional Competence

 

• Unit 1: What Is Stress?
• Unit 2: Stress Management
• Unit 3: Burnout
• Unit 4: Commitment to Lifelong Learning

 

 

Module 17:  First Aid/CPR

 

Module 18: Medication Administration

Tutors

If organizations wish to offer this training in the Face-to-Face

delivery mode, they must be prepared to train an in-house Tutor. 

This delivery mode requires the support of and in-service trainer.

Individual learners are registered through ACDS and manuals are distributed so

Tutors can facilitator the learning process for their agency. Tutors are

responsible to facilitate the learning, mark the 2 required evaluation

components, and provide ongoing support for learners. 

 

Course Format

 

The two required evaluations include a written test and a skills aptitude checklist for every module. The written test various from 5-30 questions. Learners are required to have a mark of 80% to pass. Once all 18 modules have been completed, a certificate of completion is awarded. Course completion time is approximately 75-90 hours.

 

Audience

 

This training program was specifically designed for direct service

workers in the evolving field of Community Disability Services. It has been

designed to provide a comprehensive orientation to the knowledge, skills, and

attitudes needed by staff in today's world. 

 

Cost

Subsidies are currently available for this course.

Member Pricing $280.00 + $14.00 GST= $294.00 total.

Member Subsidy Pricing $99.75 + $4.99 GST = $104.74 total.

Non-Member Pricing $364.00 + $18.20 GST= $382.20 total.

Replacement Learner Fee $35.00 + $1.75 = $36.75 total. 

Fees need to be paid BEFORE course start date.

 

Cancellation Policy

Written notice of cancellation must be received ten working days prior to the first day of this event for a full refund. Cancellations following this deadline will be subjected to a $35 administrative fee.