Program Overview

Developmental Services Worker

Program Overview

Developmental services workers (DSWs) support people in all stages of life who have a developmental disability. DSWs focus on helping children and adults experience satisfying and rich quality lives as active and valued members of their communities. DSWs have core values which focus on social justice, empowerment, dignity, self-worth, human relationships and integrity.

As a student in this program, you will:

• Learn to develop and implement support plans that encourage the development of meaningful and relevant skills, self-determination, full community participation and healthy lifestyles.
• Learn to work with students with autism and disabilities in a classroom setting.
• Gain the skills to provide family support and build natural connections for people with developmental disabilities. Additionally, you will develop advocacy skills for people with developmental disabilities.

Intakes and Availability

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)

Are you missing admission requirements? We are here to help.

Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or math. Domestic applicants that are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s) i.e., Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.

DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on-campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:

• Grade 12 Math (MAP4C equivalent)
• Grade 12 English (ENG4C equivalent)
• Grade 11 Biology (SBI3C equivalent)
• Grade 12 Chemistry (SCH4C equivalent)

Tuition

• Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
• Year one international: $15,309 (CAD)

Semester 1 Courses

• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• Developmental Disabilities I (DSWD 1500)
• Health & Well Being (DSWH 1503)
• Developmental Psychology (DSWP 1502)
• Introduction to Development Services (DSWS 1501)
• Field Placement Prep (FDPL 1500)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• General Elective Credit (GNED 1000)

Career Options

• Developmental services worker
• Inclusion facilitator
• Employment support worker
• Educational assistant

Experiential Learning

Your learning experience will be complemented by three field placements. These will provide the opportunity to integrate theory with practice in a community setting, under the supervision of an industry professional.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Qualified graduates can apply to Durham College’s:

• Behavioural Science – Honours Bachelor (Developmental Services Worker pathway to degree – HBBD) - Durham College
• Communicative Disorders Assistant graduate certificate program
• Autism and Behavioural Sciences graduate certificate program
• Behavioural Science (Honours) Bachelor degree program

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions.

Tech Requirements

To help students have the best learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements.

• Processor: i3
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1
• Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version)
• Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter
• Camera: Webcam/built-in camera
• Internet connection

Meet Your Faculty Experts

• Kay Corbier, Faculty Member, Faculty of Social and Community Services (SCS)

Land Acknowledgement

Durham College is situated on the traditional lands of the First Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. These lands are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who care for and, through the treaty process, share the lands on which we live, learn, teach and prosper today.