Direct Support Education: Associate in Science

Description

This program is designed for those students interested in seeking employment working in the field of developmental disabilities. The Direct Support Education Program will equip current and future professionals to be more effective communicators with others and in understanding the system that is part of the developmental disabilities field. Students will learn general guidelines and documentation methods and the importance of confidentiality as well as how to support people in effectively and safely managing their basic health needs including self-advocacy and safety. Courses will also cover topics that deal with a wide variety of personal perspectives, cultures and life circumstances and students will examine general learning principles to more effectively communicate with others in a variety of settings.

Program Learning Outcomes

After completing the Direct Support Education major, a student will be able to:

1. Develop cultural awareness and understand how to work with people who have a wide variety of personal perspectives, cultures, and life circumstances.
2. Learn methods of working with people who engage in challenging behaviors in ways that are fair, safe, humane, and effective in reducing their use of problem behaviors.
3. Recognize the general guidelines for documentation, recording effective documentation, and the importance of confidentiality and the rights and issues as they relate to individuals with disabilities.
4. Understand how to support people effectively and safely when managing their medications.
5. Understand the history, language, and the basic concepts of services for persons with disabilities.
6. Understand what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are, how to identify suspected cases, how to protect the person who has been the victim of these situations, and how to document these situations effectively.