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Disability Studies

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Disability Studies

Acquire the skills needed to support individuals with disabilities in early intervention, community settings, schools, recreation, and employment. You will be prepared to create, implement, assess, and modify plans to help utilize individual strengths and abilities to increase opportunities for meaningful participation in the community.

What to expect from the program

The Disability Studies program is a two-year diploma that will help you develop the skills needed to effectively work in supporting individuals with disabilities across their lifespan. Individuals with developmental disabilities need support in early intervention, community settings, schools, recreation, and employment opportunities. A skilled workforce is needed to help people with disabilities achieve their goals and effectively participate as members of the community.

Disability service workers can work in a family or community setting in teams or independently to support individuals and their families. Graduates will create, implement, assess and modify plans to help utilize individuals’ strengths and abilities to increase avenues for meaningful participation in the community and society.

Graduate with experience

NorQuest College believes in the importance of on-the-job experience that provides an enriched learning opportunity.

You’ll graduate this program with 680 hours of work experience from a practicum and 90 hours of community support learning.


Career opportunities

The program will prepare graduates for employment in a number of careers in the community disability sector. This may involve working for an agency or with a family directly to assist individuals who receive assistance through programs such as Family Support for Children with Disabilities or Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Graduate may support individuals across the life span in early intervention, home living, employment, and community access. Employment opportunities exist including:

  • community disability support worker
  • community outreach worker
  • development support worker
  • early interventionist
  • education assistant
  • employment assistance worker
  • home support worker
  • managers of agencies
  • residential assistant
  • therapeutic assistant (behaviour)

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