There are four modules to the taught part of this course
This inter-disciplinary course consists of four modules and a dissertation.
An overview of developmental disorders
- The current definitions of developmentaldisorders and associated variations in classification and terminology, nationally and internationally.
- The co-morbid nature of developmental disorders.
- The roles and expectations of the various stakeholders: other professionals, service users and their families, within a collaborative framework.
- A wide range of national and international literature that provides the evidence base for practice including conceptual frameworks of health, well-being and disability.
The assessment and diagnosis of developmental disorders
- Tools for the diagnosis of a range of developmental disorders in practice and research.
- The use of the bio-psychosocial model of disability to frame the assessment.
- The roles that other professionals, the service user and their family/ carers play in gathering a holistic picture of the individual’s living and learning needs.
- International and national literature that provides the evidence base for the use of assessment and screening tools.
Management of developmental disorders
- The current thinking about the medical, rehabilitative and educative approaches to intervention and management of developmental disorders.
- The roles that various key stakeholders play in managing the living and learning needs of the individual.
- Understanding and critiquing international and national literature which provides the evidence base for the approaches to management utilised or potentially rejected.
- Measuring the impact of interventions upon the individual’s daily life.
Research methods for developmental disorders
- The theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches which underpin the processes of qualitative and quantitative research.
- The research process so that participants can use relevant research findings to improve their professional performance and evidenced-based practice.
- The necessary skills to make them competent to carry out clinical and/ or educational research,including a basis for ethical practice in research.
- This is a reflective process and will allow the student to develop the critical skills for practice.
Each module
has 5 days of face-to-face contact based at the University of Wales, Newport. These will include time at The Dyscovery Centre. This is an internationally renowned centre with a team of health and educational professionals providing an all age range service including research, clinical, training and consultancy in the field of developmental disorders (http://dyscovery. newport.ac.uk).
