PSY222 — Supporting Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Supporting adults with Developmental Disabilities (DD) involves working with the adult to make decisions. But what is decision making and how do you support somebody else in making decisions without doing it for them? This is a complex concept that brings up multiple issues about how to treat people and how to define value. This course will provide students with the skills to support adults with Developmental Disabilities to achieve their greatest independence possible through supportive decision models of support and value-based community principles. Students will learn about the various settings that individuals with DD may need support such as housing models, employment, and accessing healthcare. Students will then explore a variety of evidence-based strategies to assist and advance the individual with DD in decision making, increase communication, accommodate sensory issues, and achieve broader social skills. This course will also provide an introduction of the intersection between disability and ethics by examining issues designed to heighten students’ sensitivity to ethical issues that may be presented to them in the field and aid them in developing a personal approach. In addition, an overview of how to engage with other team members to support individuals in goal setting and supportive decision-making activities will be discussed.
Prerequisites: PSY215, PSY221