Disability and Human Development - DHD


The information below lists courses approved in this subject area effective Fall 2015. Not all courses will necessarily be offered these terms. Please consult the Schedule of Classes for a listing of courses offered for a specific term.

500-level courses require graduate standing.

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101 Disability in U.S. Society
3 hours. Explores the variety of approaches to understanding disability in personal, social, economic, artistic, and political contexts. Individual and Society, and US Society course.

102 Disability in American Film
3 hours. Introduces students to the portrayal of disability in American cinema. What does cinema offer to our cultural understanding of disability? Previously listed as DHD 176. Creative Arts, and US Society course.

201 Disability, Rights, and Culture
3 hours. Provides an overview of disability rights and disability culture. Focuses on moral, legal, cultural, and economic aspects of the lives of people with disabilities in history and at present. Individual and Society course.

202 Disability, Health, and Society
3 hours. The notion of disability and health through the use of the World Health Organization?s (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) focusing on influence of family, culture, and policies. Prerequisite(s): DHD 101 or DHD 102. Individual and Society course.

203 Disability in World Cultures
3 hours. Examines the ways in which different social, cultural, political and economic systems shape experiences of disability by looking at disability in different contexts throughout the world. Recommended background: DHD 101. World Cultures course.

400 Disability and Human Development Capstone
1 hours. Students work with an on-campus research and/or administrative unit to apply the knowledge they gained through disability and human development coursework in a practical setting that addresses issues related to people with disabilities. Meets for 5 weeks in the classroom. The remaining 10 hours are completed in an on-campus research and/or administrative unit. Prerequisite(s): DHD 101 and at least 6 additional credit hours of disability and human development coursework must be completed.

401 Foundations of Disability and Human Development
3 hours. A critical review of key concepts and issues in disability. Students will develop a framework for understanding disability as a multi-level entity, including the impact of disability at personal, social, and societal levels. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the M.S. in Disability and Human Development program or consent of the instructor.

403 Disability in Latino Communities
3 hours. Designed to examine the distinct needs of Latino families and communities in the US and in Latin American countries, and their experiences with disabilities.

404 Disability, Sexuality, and Health
3 OR 4 hours. Explores how political, social and cultural systems as well as historical contexts shape understandings and experiences of disability, sexuality and health. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.

405 Analysis of the Americans with Disabilities Act
3 OR 4 hours. Examination of the history and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Analyzes and evalutes the effectiveness of the legislation in promoting and protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as DHD 563. Prerequisite(s): DHD 101 or DHD 201; or graduate standing; or consent of the instructor.

440 Introduction to Assistive Technology: Principles and Practice
3 hours. Principles and exemplary practice of assistive technology used by individuals with disabilities, including augmentative communication, seating, mobility, computer access, environmental control, home modifications, and worksite modifications. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Undergraduate enrolled in health sciences, education, or engineering and working professionals seeking to develop assistive technology as an area of concentration.

441 Adaptive Equipment Design and Fabrication
3 hours. Examination of the interaction between design and disability, through comparison of appropriate design theories, materials, and work on consumer-based issues. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; or DHD 440 and consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Undergraduates enrolled in health sciences, education, or engineering, or working professionals seeking to develop assistive technology as an area of concentration.

444 Assistive Technology for Literacy, Learning and Participation in Pre-K through High School
3 hours. Use of communication systems, computers, adapted equipment and strategies to foster participation and inclusion of students in grades preschool through high school. Same as SPED 444.

445 Topics in Disability Studies
3 OR 4 hours. This course will focus on topics structured around particular aspects of Disability Studies and its practical, cultural, and theoretical implications. Same as ENGL 445. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 1 time(s). Prerequisite(s): ENGL 361 or ENGL 362 or ENGL 363 or ENGL 364; and senior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.

464 Survey of Developmental Disabilities
3 hours. Survey of the developmental disabilities field, including basic definitions, history of DD services, relevant public policies and legislation, service delivery systems, and research. Same as CHSC 464. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

494 Special Topics in Disability and Human Development
1 TO 4 hours. Systematic study of selected topics in disability and human development. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

501 Disability Studies I
4 hours. Provides analysis of contemporary classification and diagnosis systems for disability as well as the conceptual foundations for disabilty studies as a content area. Previously listed as DIS 501.

502 Disability Studies II
4 hours. Current approaches and practices in disability studies, critically considered from a variety of perspectives. Service delivery systems and the influence that civil rights and self determination have had. Previously listed as DIS 502. Prerequisite(s): DHD 501.

505 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities I
4 hours. Introduces students to issues related to disabilities, including leadership, public health, interdisciplinary training and practice, emerging issues, cultural competence, family centered care, and research. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the Department.

506 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities II
3 hours. Emphasizes the leadership competencies of the MCH Bureau pertaining to disability issues: MCH knowledge, cultural competency, family-centered care, interdisciplinary team-building, community and systems, and policy and advocacy. Prerequisite(s): DHD 505 Students must be accepted into the Illinois Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program.

510 Concepts in Interdisciplinary Research on Disability
3 hours. Core concepts and methodologies of the major research traditions used in disability research.

514 Ethical Issues in Disability
2 TO 3 hours. Examines contemporary ethical issues affecting the lives of persons with disabilities and disability professionals. Critiques the application of ethical principles to problems of genetics, treatment decisions and competency. Extensive computer use required.

515 Statistical Methods in Disability Studies
3 hours. Examination of parametric and non-parametric statistical methods commonly used in disability research with microcomputer applications to supplement text and lecture materials. Prerequisite(s): An introductory course in statistics.

517 Ethics and Disability: Contemporary Problems
2 OR 3 hours. Ethical theories and ethical decision-making are examined from an interdisciplinary disability studies perspective in relation to people with disabilities. Topics include assisted suicide, de-institutionalization, and genetic discrimination. Prerequisite(s): DHD 514 or consent of the instructor.

520 Disability and Physical Activity
3 hours. Examination of the foundations of physical activity for persons with disabilities. Emphasis on strategies for promoting physical activity among persons with disabilities in community settings. Same as KN 520.

525 Technology to Promote Physical Activity Among Persons with Disabilities
3 hours. Applications of new and emerging technologies to promote participation in and adherence to healthful physical activity by people with disabilities. Considers ways of redesigning physical, social and attitudinal environments to achieve these outcomes. Same as IE 525. Recommended background: DHD 515 or an equivalent course on interpreting research findings.

526 Family Perspectives on Disability
3 hours. Examines trends, theories and research methods, policies, and family centered intervention approaches for families of persons with disabilities. Same as CHSC 526. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

528 Race, Culture, and Health Disparities
2 TO 3 hours. Focuses on developing students? critical thinking skills as they relate to race, health disparities and engaging in culturally responsive care. Same as KN 538 and OT 528. Students registering for 3 hours of credit complete an immersion activity and a research paper. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

530 Disability Oppression and Resistance
3 hours. Combines social theory that addresses a wide variety of disability studies concerns (ideology, oppression, empowerment, consciousness, and the body) with approaches on how best to use these theories to analyze the disability experience.

532 Community Intervention
3 hours. Theory, research and practice of community interventions in public, nonprofit and voluntary settings, such as disability organizations; intervention types and effectiveness; role of community intervenor. Same as PSCH 532. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

535 Advocacy and Empowerment in Disability
3 hours. In-depth review of academic literature on advocacy and empowerment. Relevant theories, research, and interventions in the context of individuals with disabilities will be reviewed.

537 Disability and Health Promotion
3 hours. Examines health issues in disability with emphasis on health promotion and preventing secondary disease. Relationship of emerging theories of health promotion to disability are discussed.

538 Disability and Health Promotion II
3 hours. Health promotion evaluation issues pertaining to people with disabilities will be critiqued and analyzed in relationship to application and usability. The content will build upon basic concepts discussed in DHD 537. Prerequisite(s): DHD 537.

541 Advanced Concepts in Disability Research
3 hours. Seminar-based applications of advanced scholarship skills. Topics covered include problem formulation, manuscript development, and critical reviews.

545 Leadership in the Non-Profit Disability Organization
3 hours. Applications in management and leadership in the non-profit disability agency. Focus on employee motivation, recruitment, retention, fiscal management, long-range planning, board development and succession planning.

546 Qualitative Methods in Disability Research
4 hours. Examines qualitative research methods, design, data collection, analysis, and report-writing. Issues of ethical conduct, power relationships, and collaborative approaches.

547 Analysis and Comparison of For-Profit and Non-Profit Organizations
3 hours. Organizational theory applied to non-profit disability agencies. Review and evaluation of theoretical models of organizations, authority, management, and budgeting.

551 Computers, Communication and Controls in Rehabilitation Technology
3 hours. Provides information on operation and use of alternative controls for computers, augmentative communication devices and powered mobility. Emphasis on matching consumer's need and assistive technology. Same as OT 551. Prerequisite(s): DHD 440. Recommended background: Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Special Education.

552 Seating and Wheeled Mobility
3 hours. Focuses on issues of wheelchair seating, positioning and mobility for children and adults with physical disabilities. Assessment procedures, technology selection, current research and analysis of funding sources. Prerequisite(s): DHD 440 or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, special education, engineering.

554 Augmentative Communication Assessment
3 hours. Augmentative communication assessment strategies and evaluation of materials development. Utilizes case examples for discussion of specific approaches for different ages, disabilities, and settings. Prerequisite(s): DHD 440. Recommended background: Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Special Education.

555 Consideration, Assessment and Documentation of Assistive Technology in PreK-12 Educational Setting
3 hours. An introduction to the delivery of assistive technology (AT) services in the PreK-12 educational setting. Includes the legal foundation, models of AT service delivery, and practical components of AT consideration, assessment, and documentation. Prerequisite(s): DHD 440.

561 Disability and Community Participation: Policy, Systems Change and Action Research
4 hours. Focuses on the critical examination of disability policy, activism, and research. Emphasis on conducting participatory action research in collaboration with constituents with disabilities, community organizations, and policy makers. Same as OT 561. Field work required. Depending on the research project, students may or may not need to complete IRB training. More information on the IRB process will be available at the start of the project. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Previous coursework in disability policy, disability empowerment research and qualitative research. To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture/Discussion and one Practice.

564 Community Integration in Developmental Disabiities
3 hours. Historical and contemporary issues pertaining to the empowerment and integration of persons with developmental disabilities into community settings. Same as CHSC 564. Provides an analysis of the historical and current approaches to the treatment of persons with disabilities within institutions and the natural community. It provides an important perspective for the understanding of current research issues, services systems, public policies, legislation, and litigation pertaining to disability. It is relevant to all specializations in the Disability and Human Development and Disability Studies programs.

565 Research Methodology and Outcomes Measures in Rehabilitation Technology
3 hours. Analyzes the research process in rehabilitation technology and assistive technology and how such analyisis leads to the development of a research proposal. Outcome measures related to assistive technology will be evaluated for their applicability. Same as OT 565. Recommended background: Engineering, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Special Education, and Speech and Language Pathology.

570 Disability and Culture
3 hours. Development of a cultural comparative approach in disability studies; American and cross-cultural aspects of disability; imagery of disability; disability and the body: gender and life-course issues, cultures of disability. Prerequisite(s): DHD 401 or consent of the instructor.

572 Modern History of Disability in the United States and around the World
4 hours. Explores several aspects of disability experiences in modern America and around the world. The course will focus on case studies and themes in the disability experience during the late 19th through the 21st centuries. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing.

576 Visualizing the Body
4 hours. Survey of key moments in the representational life of disability in film. Film portrayals of disability will be analyzed from the perspective of narrative theory, film grammar, and social history. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing.

581 Disability Policy I: Foundations of Disability Policy
3 hours. Provides a foundation of disability policy. Examines policy processes, policy making and welfare state arrangements. Focus on different political/ideological approaches to disability policy.

582 Disability Policy II: Contemporary Issues in Disability Policy
3 hours. An overview of contemporary policies, legislation and issues relating to people with disabilities across a range of policy areas. Focus on historical, political, legal, social, economic and cultural forces that shape policies and practices. This course has a required online component for all students. Prerequisite(s): DHD 581.

583 Methodology in Disability Policy
3 hours. An introduction to the tools and techniques of comparative policy analysis relating to disability policy and legislation. Focuses on both analytical and practical components of methodology in disability policy. This course has a required online component for all students. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

584 International Human Rights, Policy and Disability
3 hours. Provides an overview of international human rights, policy and disability. Focus on historical, moral, legal and economic discourses of human rights for people with disabilities. Emphasis on comparative analysis of rights, policy and disability. This course has an online component for all students. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

589 Current Research in Disability Studies
1 hours. A review of the current primary source literature in the area of disability research. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 10 hours. Previously listed as DIS 589. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

590 Field Experience in Disability and Human Development
0 TO 12 hours. Opportunities for guided experience working with agencies, families, and persons with disabilities providing concrete, practical applications of concepts and principles of disability and human development. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Prerequisite(s): DHD 401 and DHD 415; or consent of the instructor.

592 Interdisciplinary Seminar in Disability Studies
1 hours. Students, faculty, and guest speakers present topics addressing current issues in research in the area of disability studies. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 4 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Previously listed as DIS 595. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the faculty adviser.

593 Independent Research
1 TO 8 hours. Advanced study and analysis of a topic selected by a student under the supervision of a faculty member. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

594 Advanced Special Topics in Disability and Human Development
1 TO 4 hours. Systematic study of advanced selected topics in disability and human development. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term.

595 Seminar in Disability and Human Development
1 TO 4 hours. Identifies and analyzes a broad range of issues related to disability and human development. Topics vary according to student interests and instructor availability. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

596 Independent Study
1 TO 4 hours. Advanced study and analysis of a topic under guidance of a faculty member. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

597 Project Research
0 TO 16 hours. Independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing in the M.S. in Disability and Human Development program and consent of the instructor.

598 Master's Thesis Research
0 TO 16 hours. Thesis research to fulfill master's degree requirements. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing in the M.S. in Disability and Human Development program and consent of the instructor.

599 Ph.D. Thesis Research
0 TO 16 hours. Independent research in one area of disability studies. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Previously listed as DIS 599. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing in the Ph.D. in Disability Studies program and consent of the instructor.


Information provided by the Office of Programs and Academic Assessment.

This listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract. Every attempt is made to provide the most current and correct information. Courses listed here are subject to change without advance notice. Courses are not necessarily offered every term or year. Individual departments or units should be consulted for information regarding frequency of course offerings.