OCC5141 - Occupational therapy for children with a disability and their families - 2018

This course is about occupational therapy for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Etiology and epidemiology of conditions will be reviewed. The impact of accommodating the significant needs of a child with a disability in a family will be described and the impact on family member's and occupational therapy service delivery will be explored in depth. Students will learn about occupational therapy methods using the International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) and family centred practice. Learning will be experienced in the online classroom environment and students will examine several case studies in detail.

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Compare the WHO ICF, Social model of disability, the premises of the United Nations Charter on the rights of the child and occupational therapy practice for students with neurodevelopmental disability.
2. Evaluate the impact of culture and environmental influences on the capabilities and participation of children with neurodevelopmental disability.
3. Accurately describe the most common causes and co-existing conditions that occur with a diagnosis that results in developmental and functional challenges.
4. Design an occupational therapy program that is appropriate for a specific child, from the perspective of one of the major approaches that facilitates the participation of children with neurodevelopment disabilities in daily life.
5. Evaluate impairments of body structure and function in children with developmental and functional challenges.
6. Evaluate a child with a motor challenge who has limitations in self care, leisure and play skills and preschool or school related productive occupations.
7. Select appropriate occupational therapy intervention to improve a child's capabilities in childhood occupations.
8. Develop learner centred goals and explain the occupational therapy management options for improving the child's participation in home, school and community life.
9. Demonstrate creation of family centred occupational therapy goals and home programs, including professional report writing skills appropriate to the needs of parents.
10. Critique evidence based practice approaches to occupational therapy children with neurodevelopment disability.

• Presentation at a seminar (30 mins) (20%) and a submission of a summary (1,000 words) (10%)
• Short quizzes (3,500 words total over 8 weeks) (70%)
• Attendance requirements
• Active participation in online discussion boards, research reviews and proposals

60 hours interaction with online lectures and course material, and participation in online tutorials, communications with other students and tutor (online delivery only), 16 hours seminar attendance (including one day in the initial week and one in the last week with a 30 minute presentation), 1 written assignment (1,000 words), 8 discussion postings (3,500 words); 88 hours of private study.

See also Unit timetable information

Occupational therapy