Course

Disability in Context

Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Disability & Community Studies
Course code
DACS 4111
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
30
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This upper-level undergraduate course examines historical and contemporary constructions of disability from various perspectives and highlights different frameworks for interpreting the nature and meaning of having a disability. It will explore the characteristics, classification, and pathology of a range of developmental, congenital, and acquired disabilities and their relevance to sociocultural and human rights perspectives.
Course content

  • General Overview of Disability Frameworks and Models.

  • Develop a conceptual understanding of the various meanings and perspectives of disability, including:

    • Medical model
    • Rehabilitation model
    • Social model
    • Charity model
    • Social justice and civil rights model

  • Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of these models.

  • Examine exceptionalities and their characteristics, pathology, and classification across diagnostic and classification systems, including:

    • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

    • International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
  • Understand how disability is defined and measured.
  • Develop an awareness of the historical and cultural constructs of disability and how they impact employment outcomes and other quality-of-life measures.
  • Use various theories as a lens to understand disability:
    • Examine the history of oppression and the politics of prejudice as they relate to disability.
    • Consider disability movements, independent living, and disability rights.
    • Reflect on the anti-treatment movement.
Learning activities

In this course, students engage in a variety of learning activities such as lectures, group work, case studies, self-reflection, and team-based exercises. 

Means of assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. 

Assessment may include a combination of:

  • Literature reviews
  • Research paper
  • Debate or Editorial class presentation
  • Case Study/critiques
  • Online communications (discussion forum, live synchronous sessions)

Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation as part of the student’s graded performance. Expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the instructor's course outline/syllabus. 

 

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of historical and contemporary constructs of disability.
  2. Demonstrate a broad understanding of the characteristics, pathology, and classifications of developmental, congenital, and acquired disabilities.
  3. Compare and critique classifications and schemas of disability, analyzing their implications and impacts across different settings and environments.
  4. Compare and critique representations of disability in culture.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of disability as a human rights issue.
Textbook materials

A list of required and recommended reading will be provided for students at the beginning of the semester.  Instructors are committed to prioritizing OER and publicly accessible resources.

Requisites

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

DACS 5111

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for DACS 4111
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU ARTS 3XXX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) No credit
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU EDUC 4XX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU GE 2XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Individual assessment
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU HLTH 4XXX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV ADED 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV ADED 3XX (3)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CYC 232 (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
30
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
30
On waitlist
0
Building
Online
Room
ONLINE
Times:
-
Section notes

DACS 4111 090 is an online asynchronous course restricted to DACS students. Open to other students with department approval.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
30
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
30
On waitlist
0
Building
Online
Room
ONLINE
Times:
-
Section notes

DACS 4111 091 is an online asynchronous course restricted to DACS students. Open to other students with department approval.