The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the theory and practice of communication, with a focus on the use of effective communication techniques in individual and group situations in the workplace.
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WHDM 214: Practicum Preparation and Proposal (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to prepare students for participation in the practicum stream, including how to conduct oneself appropriately in the workplace; how to search for a practicum; how to write introductory letters and negotiate the duties; how to identify the training required in the workplace; how to write a proposal for practicum processes and how they will be implemented in the third and fourth year of the program; and how to participate in physical or mental health first aid, WHMIS, or other training as appropriate preparation for going on site. Students will propose a project and presentation to be completed in the third and fourth year of the program.
Prerequisite: WHDM 212
WHDM 212: Introduction to Professional Ethics (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to provide a foundation of professional ethics as part of preparation for practicums in the workplace. This is an introduction to professional ethics and a philosophical treatment of ethical principles and ethical theories. The course also looks at the development of applied ethics in contemporary fields, like social work, medicine and healthcare, bioethics, disability management, and human resources. All material is grounded in exercises, initially within the context of reasoning, ethical theory and decision-making and later with more specificity with respect to the field of disability management.
WHDM 211: Independent Study in a Work Disability Issue (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to explore a workplace health science issue relevant to a work sector. Students will be expected to identify a work sector and a relevant issue such as prevention of injury, disability or promotion of health in the workplace. Students will do a literature review of grey, policy and evidence literature and develop a website to share that organizes knowledge and summaries key information to promote and share the knowledge on a workplace issue within a work sector.
WHDM 203: Disability & Society (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to provide an in depth analysis of the scope and focus of disability policy and legislation from a societal perspective using the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a framework. It will provide students with a grounding in the regulatory framework within which disability policy is deployed through legislation and regulation in a number of areas that are central to disability management including independent living and mobility, education, health, rehabilitation, employment, adequate living standards and social protection. Legal cases that have set precedents in the field will be reviewed and analyzed. Students will critique the application of disability policy and legislation in terms of their impact on equality of participation and full citizenship for persons with disabilities and the role that Disability Management can play in achieving these aspirations.
DMCCY – Managing the Return-to-Work Process
This module covers the case management process including working with a return-to-work team that includes internal personnel and external service providers. The return-to work process including assessment, return-to-work planning, implementation, monitoring and adaptation, and evaluation is examined.
Prerequisites:
- DMCCA – Effective Disability Management Programs
- DMCCB – Introduction to Return-to-Work Coordination
- DMCCE – Job Analysis
- DMCCF – The Role of Assessment
- DMCCG – Communication and Interviewing Skills
- DMCCH – Interviewing and Helping Skills
- DMCCR – Assistive Technology and Accommodation
$250.00
DMCCX – Professional Conduct
Participants will identify and analyze situations in disability management where ethical issues might arise. The module will also examine how codes of ethics are developed and how they are used in dealing with ethical issues.
$250.00
DMCCW – Injury Prevention and Health Promotion
This module provides an overview of safety programs, approaches to ergonomics, and the implementation of wellness programs. The interaction of such programs with the disability management program is considered. (This is not a substitute for a safety course.)
$250.00
DMCCV – Information Management
Participants will explore what kind of program and client information is collected, how it is collected and used, and what issues of confidentiality are involved. The applicability of Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) is considered. Also examined will be the Return to Work Coordinator’s role in collecting information on community services and resources, keeping professional skills and knowledge up to date, and researching information on an as needed basis.
$250.00
DMCCU – Marketing and Education in Disability Management and Return to Work
This module covers the planning and development of internal communications programs aimed at creating support for disability management among management and labor, employees who might incur disabilities, and their coworkers. The requirement for external communications components is examined including education and information targeted to medical and other service providers.
$250.00
DMCCT – Evaluating Disability Management Programs and Assessing Return to Work Processes
An overview of techniques employed in evaluating programs including matching outcomes to goals, benchmarking with other organizations and departments, and conducting program audits and cost-benefit analyses will be provided. Students will consider client satisfaction surveys and other approaches to assessing the return to work process.
Prerequisites:
- DMCCA – Effective Disability Management Programs
- DMCCB – Introduction to Return-to-Work Coordination
$250.00
DMCCS – Managing Change
This module is designed to enable participants to apply theories of change in practical ways. Issues of change management are examined from an organizational and individual perspective. The administrators of disability management programs must be able to adapt to external changes ranging from the effects of new technology to new legislation and regulation. Internal policies and procedures will affect, and be affected by, the disability management program. Individual returns to work may be influenced by changes within the organization or by the effect of personal changes in physical and other capacities. A positive workplace culture and effective leadership can help individuals and organizations adjust to change.
$250.00
DMCCR – Assistive Technology and Accommodation
This module covers the process of implementing low to high tech assistive technology in the accommodation of a worker with disabilities. The process includes evaluating the needs of the employee; researching and choosing the most appropriate equipment, software or other job aid; researching and choosing the best supplier; developing a business case for the application; testing the technology and training the worker as necessary; maintaining the assistive technology; and evaluating the outcomes.
Prerequisite: DMCCE – Job analysis
$250.00
DMCCQ – Management and Organizational Skills in Disability Management
Participants will review and analyze their organizational skills including planning, delegating, negotiating, budgeting, and time management. Many return-to-work coordinators must obtain the cooperation of people who are not under their direct supervision and a variety of leadership, planning and communication skills will help in achieving goals and objectives.
$250.00
DMCCP – Disability Management From a Human Resources Perspective
The human resources strategy of an organization will influence the benefits that are provided to employees—including assistance with return to work. Benefits and benefit plans and their relationship to disability management will be considered. Provincial employment standards acts that impact return to work in non-unionized organizations, policy and procedures development, and alternate dispute resolution and committee processes will be explored.
$250.00
DMCCO – Disability and Diversity in the Workplace
The purpose of this module is to examine diversity issues including attitudes towards minorities and people with disabilities, to consider how diversity issues can affect a return to work, and to explore strategies for dealing with cultural differences during the return to work process. Common components of diversity programs will be outlined and the interaction between diversity programs and disability management programs will be examined.
$250.00
DMCCN – Disability Management in Unionized Organizations
Various aspects of labor relations impact disability management including the collective agreement and provincial labor relations act. Memorandums of agreement and letters of intent used in establishing programs and joint committees will be examined. Dispute resolution in a union setting will be explored.
$250.00
DMCCM – Problem-Solving With Groups
The module covers a range of facilitation skills such as clarifying issues or dealing with obstruction—skills that Return to Work Coordinators will use in return-to-work case meetings involving the employee, supervisor, shop steward or other service providers, and in Disability Management Committee meetings. These group techniques are related to a problem solving process that can be used to move the return-to-work process forward or to deal with issues arising from the program in general.
$250.00
DMCCL – Insurance and Other Benefits
The workshop covers long term and short term disability, CPP disability, automobile insurance, EI sickness benefits, social assistance, and the hierarchy of benefits when several are available to an employee with an injury or illness. Government programs and community organizations that might provide assistance to workers with disabilities will be discussed.
$250.00
DMCCK – Introduction to Conflict Resolution
The skills and knowledge required to analyze conflicts and to develop strategies for satisfying the interests of all stakeholders will be covered in this module—with a specific focus on return-to-work situations. The steps in resolving conflicts are explored including initially getting people to the table to discuss and define the problem and, as interests are identified, considering ways to expand the benefits that are available as part of the solution.
$250.00