Gain valuable insights to pursue a career in disability support. Disability support workers positively contribute to the lives of people living with a disability, offering personal, physical, and emotional support.
The Certificate of Disability Support is an online professional development program that will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to support individuals living with a disability.
In this disability support course, you will learn about fostering inclusivity, promoting equal opportunity, and empowering people with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives.
You will also discover various aspects of disability support, including physical and learning support, inclusive environments, workplace inclusivity, healthcare access, and social and community participation.
On completion of this course, you will have a foundation understanding of how to support people living with a disability.
Course Structure
Unit - Disability Support
Unit 1 – Nature and Scope of Disability Support
- Changing perceptions
- Characteristics of disability support workers
- Changing perceptions
- Models of disability
- Medical model
- Social model
- Definitions of disability
- Key terminology
- Human rights
- Underpinning human rights values – fairness, respect, equality, dignity, autonomy
- Diversity in the social context
- What equality means for those with disabilities
- Inclusivity and disabilities
- What influences inclusion
- Socio economic influences
- Life skills development
Unit 2 – Nature of Physical Disabilities
- Sensory disabilities
- Sight
- Deaf/blindness
- Physical mobility disabilities
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular dystrophy
- Motor neurone disease (MND)
- Amputees, paraplegia, hemiplegia and quadriplegia
- Chronic pain and arthritis
- Osteo-conditions
- Neurological disorders – Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis
- Speech disorders
- Speech and language therapy
- Providing individualised support
Unit 3 – Nature of Learning Differences
- What is a learning difference
- Dyslexia
- Dysgraphia
- Dyscalculia
- Dyspraxia
- Dysphasia
- Developmental language disorder
- Auditory processing disorder
- Visual perceptual motor disorder
- Non verbal learning disorder
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Intellectual disability
- How learning differences are identified and diagnosed
- Importance of early diagnosis/screening
- Who diagnoses
- When do diagnoses occur
- Who authorises in school and/or assessment judgements
- Provide individualised support
- Common whole school procedural/policy adjustments
- Common class adjustments
- Aspects to include
- Common assessment adjustments
- Role of home schooling and distance education
Unit 4 – Inclusive Learning Experiences and Environments
- Role of teachers and trainers
- Medical devices to support learners with significant physical disabilities
- The role of the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator in school settings
- Special Education Needs Coordinators
- The physical environment
- Setting up a sensory room in schools, at home or in the workplace
- Alternative technologies
Unit 5 – Inclusivity in the Workplace
- Diversity and inclusion
- Inclusivity models for the workplace
- Respect
- Sense of belonging
- Empowerment
- Fair chance for career progression
- Physical factors to ensure inclusivity
- Catering for visual disabilities
- Wheelchair access
- Catering to intellectual disabilities
- Catering for poor balance, coordination or fine motor control
- Catering for hearing difficulties
- Support with manual tasks
- Adaptations in tools and equipment
- Physical support
- Understanding ergonomics
- Protective gear
- Hand protection
- Eye protection
- Machine guards
- Floors and walkways
- Recruitment
- Equity and fair pay
Unit 6 – Independent Living and In Home Support
- Safety factors
- Nutrition
- Important factors in nutrition
- Ingredients, compatibility, cooking methods, additional requirements.
- Eating
- Meal preparation
- Cleaning and home care
- People who help – communication, daily activities
- Overnight care sleeping difficulties
- Domestic services
- Transport
- Pet care or assistance pets
- Financial management
Unit 7 – Health Care and Inclusivity
- What is a need?
- Person centred service responses
- Occupational therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Complimentary health services
- Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals
- Psychologists and counsellors
- Supporting disabled people through grief and loss
- Support through health changes and deterioration
- Health changes and deterioration due to aging
- Physical changes
- Support through debilitating or terminal illness diagnosis
- Strategies during health changes
- Depression
- Safeguarding vulnerable adults
- Cultural safety in practice
- Physical aids for wellbeing
Unit 8 – Sport, Leisure and Travel
- Barriers – physical, informational, logistical, psychological
- Effects of inactivity
- Exercise and age
- What happens during and after exercise
- Breathing
- Hydration
- Loss of total body fluid
- Participation
- Models of Inclusivity in sport and activities – TREE model
- Sports and leisure clubs
- Being active in the home
- Health
Unit 9 – Relationships and Community Participation
- Prejudice
- Autism and relationships
- Friendships
- Maintaining existing friendships
- Family
- Colleagues
- Romantic relationships
- Online community – grooming, social media assistance
- Participation and social inclusion in the wider community
- Getting about – transport
Unit 10 – Working in Disability Care and Support
- Employment
- Care work
- Administrative roles
- Allied health
- Supply, installation and maintenance of aids/equipment
- Future opportunities
- Setting an agreement
- Insurance
- Screening requirements for workers
- Managing risk and compliance
- Moving & handling people
- Hoists, transfer aids, transport aids
- Helping a client to sit from a standing position:
- Rolling and repositioning a client in bed:
- To move the person to their other side using a slide sheet:
- Keeping a logbook
- Social care funding
- Ethics and standards in disability work
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Click Add to Cart/View Cart on the course page.
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:
- Community Service Workers
- Support Workers
- Health Care Workers
- Carers
- Teachers
- Teacher Aids
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