| Unit name | Disabled Childhoods |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0050 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Dowling |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Part-time route: Successful completion of at least one mandatory unit (SPOLM0013 or ACHSM0001) or an equivalent unit in social science research methods. Full-time route: Successful completion of two mandatory units from the following: SPOLM0013, ACHSM0001, SPOLM0014 and SPOLM0015. |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Disabled Childhoods is a growing area of interest within Disability Studies. It takes as a point of departure that disabled children are children first and their emotional, social and educational development is predicated on the experience of childhood, as with any child, but is also filtered through a prism of disabling contexts over which they have limited control. The purpose of this optional unit is to introduce, explore and reflect on notions of ‘disability’ as they apply to childhoods. The varying contexts explored will include the social world of disabled children, disabled children in the family context and within school, being a looked after disabled child, living with a life-limiting condition; asylum, disability and childhood; access to play for disabled children and the transition to adult life. There will be an emphasis on the inclusion of the views and perspectives of disabled children both in relation to their own lives and in the development of social and public policy. The example of disabled children and young people’s input into the development of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) will be explored. Methodological approaches in a research context, which are focused on the inclusion of disabled children will be considered from a practice perspective.
The aims are:
By the end of the unit, students will be able to:
1) identify and demonstrate an understanding of how key theories in disability studies can be applied to disabled childhoods
2) critically reflect on contemporary research in disabled childhood studies
3) identify and critically examine UK policy relating to disabled children
4) understand and reflect critically on the lived experience of disabled children through a range of contexts drawing on empirical research in the field.
The summative assessment tests all of the ILOs and accounts for 100% of the unit mark.
This unit will be delivered through blended learning involving a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including online lectures, study groups and self-directed exercies and activities.
Formative assessment: preparatory reading, to be critiqued and presented to fellow students during the unit, with tutor feedback on how to approach and critically present literature.
Summative assessment will consist of a 4,000 word essay which will assess whether the intended learning outcomes have been met.
The summative assessment tests all of the ILOs and accounts for 100% of the unit mark.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM0050).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
