School of Aging, Disability, and Inclusive Services (ADI) / Introduction to Aging, Disability and the Life Course
Introduction to Aging, Disability and the Life Course
Course One establishes the foundational conceptual grounding for the ADI certificate, introducing learners to aging and disability not as separate, unrelated practice areas but as interconnected experiences best understood through a life-course perspective, in which functional capacity, health, and
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Course Overview
A training needs assessment conducted across CEDSI Nigeria's partner communities and prospective learners found that most respondents, including some existing caregivers and community health workers, held largely medicalised, deficit-focused views of both aging and disability, viewing older adults primarily in terms of decline and persons with disabilities primarily in terms of impairment, with limited awareness of rights-based or strengths-based alternatives. This course was designed specifically to establish a different starting frame before any applied skill content is introduced.
Module 1 Training Needs Assessment Questionnaire (Pre-Training)
This questionnaire is completed by each prospective learner before Module 1 begins. Responses are reviewed by the facilitator to confirm the training is justified for this cohort, to calibrate pacing and depth, and to identify any learner requiring additional support. Responses are treated confidentially and do not affect admission to the certificate.
Learning objectives
Explain the life-course perspective and its relevance to understanding aging and disability as interconnected experiences.
Describe basic biological, psychological, and social dimensions of the aging process.
Distinguish the medical model of disability from the social model of disability.
Identify common myths and misconceptions about aging and disability, and articulate accurate, respectful alternatives.
Apply the five core principles of this certificate, respect, inclusion, support, empowerment, and collaboration, to a described practice scenario.