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Intellectual Disability Studies (FETAC Level 5)

  • Course Fee: Special Offer price Now only: €274.50
  • Was: €549
  • FETAC Level 5 component Certificate in Intellectual Disability Studies (D20169).
  • Distance learning/eLearning home study course leading to a FETAC award.
  • There are no lectures to attend and all course materials are provided.
  • Students can complete this course within 3 months which is ample time and can start it at any time of the year that is convenient. If students need to extend this period for any reason during or near the end of the course they can request an extension through the college.

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Course Details:

This course is designed for people who wish to work in the area of intellectual Disability, employers in the intellectual disability area would favour job candidates with this module completed.

The course will also be of particular interest to family members and friends who have contact with a person with Intellectual Disability.

This Component Certificate course leads to a FETAC Level 5 award and is comprehensive and easy to read. This distance learning/eLearning FETAC course means that students can study flexibly at home or at work while gaining a nationally accredited qualification.

Students receive a comprehensive Course Manual. Assignments, Course Materials and unlimited one-to-one Tutor support for the duration of the course.

Course contents:

The course is divided into 4 Units each covering a number of specific learning outcomes grouped as follows:

  • Unit 1: Deals with the context of Intellectual Disability
  • Unit 2: Covers the models of Service provision
  • Unit 3: Deals with Holistic Care
  • Unit 4: Covers caring for those with Specific Needs.

Learners who successfully complete the course will:

  • Understand the concept of intellectual disability and its contexts
  • Be familiar with national and local models of services for people with intellectual disability and their families
  • Demonstrate good work practices in the provision of holistic care for people with intellectual disability and their families
  • Be able to meet the full range of people with intellectual disability in a variety of settings and across the full lifespan.

Unit 1 – When you have studied this Unit you will be able to:

Summarise the evolution of services for people with intellectual disability, nationally and internationally, including:

  • development of specialist services
  • involvement of the religious orders and voluntary organisations
  • involvement of parents and friends
  • principles of normalisation, de-institutionalisation and social role valorisation, person-centered care
  • advocacy
  • national and international public and social policies.

Discuss past and current attitudes towards people with intellectual disability.

Promote positive attitudes towards people with intellectual disability.

Analyse the concept of intellectual disability in terms of its definition, classification and manifestations.

Unit 2 – When you have studied this Unit you will be able to:

Outline models of living that exist for people with an intellectual disability and their families throughout their lifespan, to include:

  • home
  • centre-based residential
  • community-based homes
  • independent and semi- independent living
  • l’Arche/ Camphill communities
  • respite/breakaway.

Identify a range of specific services that are available to people with intellectual disability in the following:

  • education
  • training
  • the workplace
  • retirement.

Outline current approaches towards developing quality in the provision of services for people with intellectual disability and their family, to include standards and quality assurance.

Unit 3 – When you have studied this Unit you will be able to:

Outline the range of physical, social, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of people with intellectual disability.

Recognise the effects of caring for a person with intellectual disability on close and extended family members.

Promote the following in caring for the person with intellectual disability:

  • dignity
  • choice
  • relationships
  • sharing ordinary places
  • contributing.

Facilitate a diversity of play, leisure and social activities for people with intellectual disability in a variety of settings across the lifespan.

Evaluate the role of individual programme planning in the provision of holistic care to people with intellectual disability and their family.

Assist in the implementation of an individual programme plan.

Communicate effectively with people with intellectual disability, his/her family/carers and the multidisciplinary team.

Demonstrate the use of the following techniques in assisting the person with intellectual disability to develop their full potential:

  • task analysis
  • reinforcement
  • shaping
  • backward and forward chaining.

Unit 4 – When you have studied this Unit you will be able to:

Plan a number of positive proactive approaches to meeting the needs of the person with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour.

Respond appropriately to the needs of the person with intellectual disability who may also have other disabilities (e.g. mental illness, multiple disabilities, Down’s Syndrome, Alzheimer’s dementia).

Respond to the special care needs of the person with intellectual disability and multiple medical needs.

Respond appropriately to the specific needs of the person with intellectual disability and sensory impairment.

Who should complete this course?

  • This course is designed for those who are working, or planning to work, with children/adults with intellectual disability in a paid or voluntary capacity.
  • The course will also be of particular interest to family members and friends who have contact with a person with Intellectual Disability.

General Aims of the course:

  • To meet the training needs of those working or volunteering as Care Assistants in this field.
  • To develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the role of the Care Assistant.
  • To promote good practice amongst those working with children/adults with intellectual disabilities.

Preferred entry level:

  • Level 4 Certificate, leaving Certificate or equivalent qualifications and /or relevant life and work experience.  Minimum age 17 years.

Programme Entry Requirements:

  • Students must be working or on work experience in the Healthcare Sector throughout their course as assignments will require learners to draw upon practical experience.
  • If you take this course by distance learning the course material will be posted to you.  You can complete and return assignments/projects which must be typed rather than handwritten either by post or by email.
  • If you take this course by eLearning you will need basic IT skills and have access to broadband.

Assessment:

  • There is no exam with this course.
  • Assessment is carried out by means of skills demonstration and a project the brief of which is sent directly to students.
  • As part of our quality assurance, student assessment work will be marked by an Internal Assessor, validated by a Verifier with an independent FETAC External Authenticator to complete the process. Click here for more information.

Skills demonstration 60% of available marks:

Learners will be assessed in a broad range of practical skills covering specific life skills from the below. The student will have to carry out 5 skills demonstration tasks and must complete all skills which are mandatory from the list and choose any other two topics from the elective list.

Mandatory Tasks:

  • Feeding
  • Toileting
  • Oral Hygiene.

Elective Tasks (Choose any two options):

  • Hair Care
  • Crossing the road
  • Using a telephone
  • Preparing a simple meal
  • Participating in craft making
  • Setting the table for a meal
  • Using a washing machine or another piece of domestic equipment
  • Ordering a meal in restaurant or any other life skill.

To demonstrate these skills learners, if not working in this area, will need to have access to independent verifiable working experience of not less than 40 hours.

Work based Project – 40% of available marks:

  • This project will involve some consultation with a client and or family/member. Learners will be assessed on their ability to analyse, evaluate and draw conclusions or make recommendations as appropriate on their findings.

Grading:

  • Pass 50 – 64%
  • Merit 65 – 79%
  • Distinction 80 – 100%

Progression to further Studies

  • This course leads to a level 5 award on the National Framework of Qualifications.
  • Students who successfully complete this programme may use this Level 5 credit towards the: FETAC Level 5 Health Certificate, FETAC level 5 Component Certificate in Practical Home Care Skills, FETAC Level 5 Care Support, FETAC Level 5 Human Development and FETAC Level 5 Care Skills.

Accreditation

  • Following successful completion you will receive a FETAC Intellectual Disability Studies (D20169) Level 5 component Certificate.
  • The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) is the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. The Open College is registered with FETAC to offer programmes leading to FETAC awards in the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland. Click here for details of the National Framework of Qualifications.
  • Click here for more detailed Accreditation information.
  • Please note we do not ask you to pay any fee for administration or moderation.

 

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Further Study Options:
»Click here to view some further study options.