Program Overview

Diploma in Community Access for Disabled People

Overview

The Diploma in Community Access for Disabled People is a program of study offered at the University of Malta and the University of Malta Gozo Campus. The main aim of this program is to enable students to gain a deep understanding of disability, especially from the social and cultural aspect.

Program Details

• The program is offered on a part-time basis and lasts for one year, with 30 ECTS credits.
• The mode of study is part-time day.
• The program may be extended by another year of two semesters on a part-time basis, leading to a Diploma in Community Access for Disabled People, and yet again extended to a further year of two semesters leading to a Higher Diploma in Community Access for Disabled People.

Aims and Objectives

The general aims of the program of study are to enable students to:

1. Increase their knowledge of disability issues.
2. Be aware of and analyze the complexity of these issues.
3. Be able to compare them to similar and related issues.

Study Units

The program is firmly embedded in the discipline of disability studies and is based on the social model of disability. The study units are planned to provide a foundation for the first year of studies, covering all areas of study that need to be covered for the general aim to be reached.

Year 2

• Semester 1:
  • DBS2201: Campaigning for Rights on an Equal Basis with Others (4 ECTS)
  • DBS2202: From Dependence to Autonomy: Empowerment in Everyday Life (4 ECTS)
  • DBS2203: Developing Disability Arts (6 ECTS)
• Semester 2:
  • DBS2206: Building Inclusive Communities (4 ECTS)
  • DBS2208: Disabled People's Impairment-Related Issues (4 ECTS)
  • DBS2216: Disability Policy (4 ECTS)
  • DBS2217: Education, Employment and Health Access to Related Services (4 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify socially-constructed disabling barriers in different aspects of life and ways in which they can be removed.
2. Describe services and initiatives that are aimed specifically at increasing access and inclusion for disabled people.
3. Analyze different aspects of life and how these affect disabled people.
4. Apply the knowledge and skills acquired to a community-based project.
5. Produce a self-reflexive report on the project.

Tuition Fees

• Total tuition fees for non-EU applicants: Eur 4,250

Career Opportunities

This course will provide students with skills that will increase their opportunities for employment in the social, welfare, and/or community field in voluntary, non-governmental, and governmental settings, especially those related to disability.