ERGOB2100 Accessibility, Adaption and Technology Course description

An accessible environment are an important precondition for occupation and participation. Occupational therapists can work at system level with universal design, or at individual and group level with adaptation of the environment and the use of aids as a health-promoting or compensating measure Technology makes up a significant part of the aids currently available to users with physical, cognitive, mental or social challenges. Technology can also be used as part of the training of skills and functions in a rehabilitation process. Digital competence in development, use and security is important in a digitalised society.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has advanced knowledge of

• social protection strategies, in particular related to major social risks: unemployment, sickness, disability, lack of a provider, child abuse, and old age
• the interplay between protection provided by the state, the voluntary sector, the family and the market
• principles of social insurance and health insurance
• strategies for providing residual or universal social and health assistance
• the extended family as a risk-managing institution
• problems with social protection coverage and strategies for extending coverage
• strategies for efficient delivery of health and social services
• policy evaluation methods in health and social care

Skills

The student can

• identify similarities and differences in social and health protection strategies in high-, middle-, and low-income countries
• investigate the arguments for and against public management, public/private partnerships, outsourcing and other strategies with regard to the delivery of publicly provided health and social services
• analyse processes of social/health policy implementation
• evaluate social/health policy outputs and outcomes

General competence

The student is able to

• participate in the debate on how to organise and implement social welfare and health policies, in a national as well as international context
• participate in the discussion of which evaluation strategies that are most useful in various contexts, with regard to evakuations of social welfare and health policies, in a national as well as international context
• participate in the debate concerning how to frame health and social policy goals across countries and cultures

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

Knowledge

The student is capable of

• describing universal design and adaptation of environment
• explaining how technology and aids can promote people’s occupation and participation
• describing different arenas such as home, school and workplace, and explain the connection between functional impairment, disability and participation

Skills

The student is capable of

• applying relevant knowledge about adaption of the city environment to promote independence, health and quality of life
• using relevant legislation, research and user experience to explain how the design of the surrounding environment influences occupation and participation
• justifying and communicating the need for physical and cognitive aids and adaptation of different arenas such as the home, school and workplace
• guiding people in testing, adaptation, training and follow-up in the use of aids and welfare technology
• reflecting on the benefits and challenges of using welfare technology

General competence

The student is capable of

• exchanging points of view and cooperating with others on the development of welfare technology and its use
• using activity analyses and adapting physical surroundings to promote inclusion, coping and participation in play, learning, work and recreation

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

Coursework 1: The student must submit a coursework requirement of at least 1700 words, written individually or in groups of max 4 students. The coursework paper must be approved by the course lecturer.

Coursework 2: The coursework paper is to be presented at a seminar, or poster session, or zoom gathering. Participation in the seminar, or poster session, or zoom gathering is mandatory.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version by a given deadline.

A student who is absent from the presentation will have to submit a compensatory coursework requirement within a given deadline.

In order to be permitted to sit the exam, the following must have been approved: 

• a minimum of 80 per cent attendance in scheduled teaching

Project examination in the form of an individual written work that is developed during the course. Scope: a maximum of 3000 words. The student can choose between two or more set research questions.

Resit examination: If the student is awarded the grade F (fails the written assignment), he/she will be given one (1) opportunity to submit a reworked version.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

A-F.

All exam papers are assessed by two examiners. An external examiner will assess at least 20% of the papers together with an internal examiner. Other exams are assessed by two internal examiners. The external examiner’s assessment shall benefit all students.