Course Descriptions

Advanced Certificate in Return to Work (ACRTW)

The Advanced Certificate in Return to Work comprises 30 specialized credits selected from the Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) degree that are specifically related to return to work. Students who wish to complete the full BDM program will receive credit for their studies in the Advanced Certificate.

Entry criteria to the program include a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of B-, completion of a 3 or 4 year undergraduate degree from a recognized institution and some relevant work experience.

ACRTW courses are listed below and full course details of all courses can be viewed in the Academic Calendar.

 

ACRTW Courses Stream 1 – Canadian Perspective

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to three components of disability management: disability management as a discipline and the value it provides; corporate disability management programming best practice; and the role of an effective disability management practitioner in driving client experience. In each component, students will develop a broad understanding of: theories and concepts that underline disability management, legislative and policy frameworks, disability benefits and financial impacts to workers and employers, working with multiple stakeholders, client experience, and strategies and practices to achieve work retention and/or early return to work for workers who experience a work- related injury, or who are at risk of a health-related absence.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of physical disabilities, their impact on work activities, and how workers can be accommodated to mitigate the effects of work disability.

The purpose of this course is to examine the legal underpinnings of disability management established in international treaties, national, federal and provincial law and regulation. Workplace practices that are commonly governed by statutes and regulations in most jurisdictions and the issues and rationale underlying the legislation will be analyzed. Common provisions developed in response to workplace issues and the legislative requirements that underpin the source or cause of the workplace disability, the legal boundaries within which employers and unions are required to operate, and the requirements on the employee will be compared. Students will examine the specific employment and workplace legislation in their own jurisdictions, the regulations through which the legislation is implemented, and how these affect organizational practices. Processes related to identifying, measuring and mitigating risks to health and safety will be explored.

The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of adverse mental health conditions in general, and from a workplace perspective. Students will examine the concept of mental illness and explore common mental health impairments, including their impact on the workplace, potential treatments, and strategies for retention and return to work.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to case management and its principles, models, and phases from a return-to-work focus. Disability case management is the process whereby one individual acts as the central liaison and facilitator for the delivery to clients of a range of services that can facilitate a return to work. Data gathering is an essential component of Case Management, and requires skilled interviewing techniques not only to obtain relevant information but also to uncover challenges and opportunities in order to develop effective responses to both. Models of helping and the potential and limitations of the helping role will be explored. Students will practice strategies to ensure that case management approaches are worker-centered, and that differences in background and situation are recognized and respected. The process of interview techniques and skills that enable disability management professionals to return to work will be explored through an inter-disciplinary approach.

 

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the theoretical and practical background to identify and record job demands, interpret assessment reports, determine when there is a mismatch between individual capacity and job demands, and eliminate these through accommodation planning.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the score of ergonomics and the application of ergonomic principles to work organization. It includes an overview of concepts and related theory and ergonomic assessment processes, and the identification and application of solutions.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the field of ethics, the role of the Disability Management Professional and the application of ethics to workplace issues.   There will be a focus on the CDMP Ethical Standards and Professional Conduct document and how it applies to providing disability management services. The course will cover concept specific information in ethics and examples or points of contact between concept specific information and the disability management profession. Through individual work and group discussions, students will move from obtaining information to potential application in their professional work lives.   Students will work through the CDMP Ethical Standards and Professional Conduct document to determine the potential application to disability management services.

The purpose of this course is to examine the skills and knowledge required for case management and service coordination, along with problem solving processes used in complex situations. The client’s role as the centre of the process will be explored. Students will also consider issues related to diversity, lack of client commitment to the process, and ethics and law.

Prerequisite: WHDM 403 or WHDM 308

The purpose of this course is to explore the types of workplace insurance that are commonly available, along with questions about how insurance is funded, how benefits are calculated, and who provides the insurance – whether private, public or some combination of the two. Participants will be expected to apply concepts of their own jurisdictions.

ACRTW Courses Stream 2 – International Perspectives

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to three components of disability management: disability management as a discipline and the value it provides; corporate disability management programming best practice; and the role of an effective disability management practitioner in driving client experience. In each component, students will develop a broad understanding of: theories and concepts that underline disability management, legislative and policy frameworks, disability benefits and financial impacts to workers and employers, working with multiple stakeholders, client experience, and strategies and practices to achieve work retention and/or early return to work for workers who experience a work- related injury, or who are at risk of a health-related absence.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of physical disabilities, their impact on work activities, and how workers can be accommodated to mitigate the effects of work disability.

The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of adverse mental health conditions in general, and from a workplace perspective. Students will examine the concept of mental illness and explore common mental health impairments, including their impact on the workplace, potential treatments, and strategies for retention and return to work.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to case management and its principles, models, and phases from a return-to-work focus. Disability case management is the process whereby one individual acts as the central liaison and facilitator for the delivery to clients of a range of services that can facilitate a return to work. Data gathering is an essential component of Case Management, and requires skilled interviewing techniques not only to obtain relevant information but also to uncover challenges and opportunities in order to develop effective responses to both. Models of helping and the potential and limitations of the helping role will be explored. Students will practice strategies to ensure that case management approaches are worker-centered, and that differences in background and situation are recognized and respected. The process of interview techniques and skills that enable disability management professionals to return to work will be explored through an inter-disciplinary approach.

 

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the theoretical and practical background to identify and record job demands, interpret assessment reports, determine when there is a mismatch between individual capacity and job demands, and eliminate these through accommodation planning.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the field of ethics, the role of the Disability Management Professional and the application of ethics to workplace issues.   There will be a focus on the CDMP Ethical Standards and Professional Conduct document and how it applies to providing disability management services. The course will cover concept specific information in ethics and examples or points of contact between concept specific information and the disability management profession. Through individual work and group discussions, students will move from obtaining information to potential application in their professional work lives.   Students will work through the CDMP Ethical Standards and Professional Conduct document to determine the potential application to disability management services.

The purpose of this course is to examine the skills and knowledge required for case management and service coordination, along with problem solving processes used in complex situations. The client’s role as the centre of the process will be explored. Students will also consider issues related to diversity, lack of client commitment to the process, and ethics and law.

Prerequisite: WHDM 403 or WHDM 308

The purpose of this course is to explore the types of workplace insurance that are commonly available, along with questions about how insurance is funded, how benefits are calculated, and who provides the insurance – whether private, public or some combination of the two. Participants will be expected to apply concepts of their own jurisdictions.

The purpose of this courses it to critically examine the international legal and policy contributions that have shaped a context for developing and implementing return to work programs. In this course students will compare and contrast the international and national social, occupational, economic factors that impact upon the effectiveness of programs to promote labour participation of people with disabilities.

The purpose of this course is to examine how standards at the systems level provide a foundation for achieving excellence in return tor work. In this course the focus will be on examining the principles and tenets of guidelines and standards as well as the challenges in interpreting and applying them within diverse international contexts.

The purpose of this course is the examination of change strategies at the organization and system levels that can promote international and national priorities for return to work and work retention. In this course the foci are on conceptual, social, economic, evaluative and individual approaches that enable organizational change and the role of leadership in sustainable transformation in return to work.