Admission Requirements

College Eligibility
Grade 12 High School Diploma or equivalent; OR
Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Certificate; OR
General Educational Development (GED); OR
Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program).

Prior to Practicum:
Medical form from a Canadian licenced physician stating fitness to complete the practicum and absence of communicable diseases
Negative Police Check, including vulnerable sector

Call the Admissions Office at 1 (800) 267-2577 for more details. Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.

Courses

• Introduction to the Field of Developmental Services
• The Nature of Developmental Disabilities
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Grammar and Writing Skills for the Health Professional
• Communications Disorders
• Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan
• Working with Families and Persons with Developmental Disabilities
• Person Directed Supports and Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
• Behavioural Support Techniques
• Health and Wellness Principles
• Dual Diagnosis; Mental Health and Persons with Developmental Disabilities
• Building Community
• Adult Development and Aging
• Essentials of Pharmacology
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems
• Practicum Preparation and Placement I Community Setting (120 Hours)
• Introduction to Educational Psychology in Canada
• Paraprofessionals (The Role of the Classroom Education Assistant)
• Individual Education Plan
• Communication Strategies for Inclusive Education
• Professional Development; Competencies and Standards of Practice
• Self-Care Strategies for the Developmental Services Worker
• Computer Basics (Word, Excel. Power Point)
• Practicum Preparation and Placement II Educational Setting (120 Hours)

Course Descriptions

Introduction to the Field of Developmental Services
Graduates will learn the soft skills and basic clinical skills for those entering health care training programs or considering a career in health care. Students will also learn the developmental services worker core competencies and those required by all health care professions, including communication, infection control, and professionalism along with the steps to developing critical thinking skills of thinking like a health care professional.

Advanced Standing
“Theory Component Credit – students may receive credit for their theory hours if they have taken previous related courses by challenging the module test, and if application, the performance demonstrations for that course. The student must achieve a minimum passing score of 70% on the test/demonstration. The amount of credit is then determined on an individual basis after an interview the Admissions Director and a review of the student’s transcript of marks for the previous courses taken. The maximum credit that can is granted is 30 hours of the total 1000 theory hours. *Practicum Component Credit – students may also receive credit for Practicum Placement hours. The student will require a letter from his/her employer(s) indicating the length of employment, duties performed and a general evaluation of the student’s abilities as a caregiver. Credit will be granted for the associated validated number of field work hours. Students must have a copy of their CEA skills passbook completed by one employer and this passbook will be required as part of the validation process of granting advanced standing for the practicum component. All requests for advanced standing of courses must be processed through the completion of the advanced standing application form and accompanied with a $100.00 non-refundable fee. Applications must be completed in full and supporting documentation attached, including copies of course transcripts in English.”

The Nature of Developmental Disabilities
In this introductory subject to the nature of developmental disabilities, students will learn about working with people who have developmental difficulties by gaining an understanding of their needs to provide support around communication, quality of needed support and services and issues that are based on a day-to-day basis. Rather than focus on any one type of developmental disability, this subject serves as the framework for my in-depth studies through the Developmental Services Worker program.

Autism Spectrum Disorders
In this subject, students will learn about Autism Spectrum Disorders evidence-based practices and approaches. Students will also learn the current trends in research and practice including special research, diversity, and issues that will help clarify the concepts and application of the learning.

Grammar and Writing Skills for the Health Professional
Graduates will learn how to combine correct grammar with medical language as they prepare professional reports and documentation. Focusing on basic grammar, students will learn entry-level health guidelines along with practical knowledge needed in real-world practice. Building on the basic’s students will then focus on more advanced grammar and writing skills.

Communications Disorders
In this subject, students will learn the characteristics, needs, and strengths of students with communication exceptionalities, including students with speech and language disorders. Students will also learn specific characteristics and classroom communication strategies and how to make appropriate adjustments to student’s unique verbal and non-verbal communication styles.

Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan
Graduates will learn the essentials of child and adolescent development. Students will explore the causes and complexities of human development and acquire a knowledge of developmental principles that will assist them with their roles when working with persons with developmental challenges, their families and other members in the capacity of support in the lives of developing individuals.

Working with Families and Persons with Developmental Disabilities
In this subject, students will focus on the families of special needs children to understand the challenges and needs of these families as well as the skills and strategies required of developmental services workers and educators working with such families. Students will also learn the common legal and ethical concerns surrounding children with special needs and their families and the unique approaches required due to the diversity in families with special needs children, cultural considerations, age, and communication styles.

Person Directed Supports and Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Graduates will learn the principles and values of person directed planning and facilitation when working with persons with developmental disabilities. The goal of this work is to enable persons with developmental disabilities to live independently as possible in the community and to support their full inclusion in all aspects of society. Students will also learn the six underlying principles that support the person directed planning and facilitation process.

Behavioral Support Techniques
In this subject, students will focus on observable behaviours and the environmental factors that affect their expression. Student will look at what demystifies stereotypical beliefs and misconceptions regarding the use of reinforcement, punishment, and self-control and learn techniques based on a sound theoretical and empirical foundation.

Health and Wellness Principles
Graduates will be guided in the principles of adopting a healthy lifestyle. From the physical and mental to social and sexual, students will learn the concepts of health, including mind, body, and spirit to take charge of on one’s health. Students will also learn the skills and habits formed along with the choices made and the way to live day by day that shape one’s health and future to live a fulfilling life and apply the core principles when working with persons with developmental disabilities.

Dual Diagnosis; Mental Health and Persons with Developmental Disabilities
In this subject, students will learn about the disorders in the context of typical development and developmental pathways. For each disorder (across descriptions of clinical presentation, course, and treatment), students will learn the continuity between typical and atypical development; risk and resilience; complex models of psychopathology; children in relationships over time; children in larger social contexts (e.g., neighborhoods); and the holistic nature of development (e.g., thinking about the child’s abilities and strengths as well as his or her disorder). Students will also be exposed to neuroscience research and greater emphasis on the multiple environments in which children are embedded to assist with understanding of child and adolescent psychopathology and empirically supported treatment.

Building Community
Graduates will learn the essentials of community development and capacity building with a focus on developing potential and enhancing community living. Students will learn how community development is initiated and the steps in the community development process. Students will learn how to use Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) strategies to strengthen communities and include people at risk for marginalization.

Adult Development and Aging
In this subject, students will be exposed to a bio-psychosocial framework, covering the specific ages-stages of adult development and aging. Students will experience the connections between research and application with a focus on “positive aging” and the gains and losses people experience across adulthood.

Essentials of Pharmacology
Graduates will learn the principles of pharmacology and calculations in a simplified step-by-step process. Students will also learn medication preparation, supplies, and specific information on each route of administration by following administration checklists allow the learner to put the knowledge into practice. Students will also learn how to organize drugs by classifications including their purpose, side effects, cautions, interactions, and contraindications.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems
In the subject students will learn about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as communication methods used to supplement or replace speech or writing for those with impairments in the production or comprehension of spoken or written language. Students will also learn that AAC is used by those with a wide range of speech and language impairments and be introduced to assistive technology used in the educational setting to aid communications.

Practicum Preparation and Placement, I Community Setting (120 Hours)
The practicum component of the Developmental Services program involves the student in two placement opportunities; one in the community setting and the other one in the education setting. Students will apply their knowledge and practical application studies to the real-world gaining insightful experience in working with persons with developmental disabilities.

Introduction to Educational Psychology in Canada
Graduates will learn information and ideas that are drawn from research in educational psychology and how this learning can be applied to solve the everyday problems of teaching. Students will also learn the educational implications and applications of research on child development, cognitive science, learning, motivation, teaching, and assessment.

Paraprofessionals (The Role of the Classroom Education Assistant)
In this subject, students will learn the fundamentals of inclusive teaching, the most effective general teaching practices, and ways to differentiate instruction for specific content areas. Targeted teaching strategies show ways to improve all students’ memory, attention, motivation, study skills, and peer interaction. Students will also learn validated strategies and learn to demonstrate why particular techniques are best practice and most effective.

Individual Education Plan
Graduates will learn the specialized requirements when working with students with special needs to develop, implement, and monitor high-quality Individual Education Plan (IEP). Students will also learn the recommended five step process that is used to meet the requirements and standards with a focus on customizing the Individual Education Plan (IEP) to the unique need of each individual student.

Communication Strategies for Inclusive Education
In this subject, students will learn the characteristics, needs, and strengths of students with communication exceptionalities, including students with speech and language disorders. Students will also learn specific characteristics and classroom communication strategies and how to make appropriate adjustments to student’s unique verbal and non-verbal communication styles.

Professional Development; Competencies and Standards of Practice
Graduates will review the essentials of how to get a job in health care including the employment cycle, job research, writing resumes, completing applications and preparing for interviews. Students will also learn the DSW Standards of Practice, Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

Self-Care Strategies for the Developmental Services Worker
In this subject, students will learn the tools they need to create their own personal balance between caring for themselves and caring for others. Students will also learn the tools of resiliency and self-care action plans to assist them within their work along with ongoing opportunities for professional development to remain current in their field of work.

Computer Basics (Word, Excel. Power Point)
Graduates will be provided with the resources and guidance to develop skills in Microsoft Office 2016 applications, focusing on Windows 10, and the basics of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Students will be provided with guided practice as well as independent projects, improve it projects and challenge projects to development and enhance Microsoft Office 2016 proficiency.

Practicum Preparation and Placement II Educational Setting (120 Hours)
The practicum component of the Developmental Services program involves the student in two placement opportunities; one in the community setting and the other one in the education setting. Students will apply their knowledge and practical application studies to the real-world gaining insightful experience in working with persons with developmental disabilities.

Every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of information provided on our website. The College reserves the right to modify any course, program, curriculum, fee, timetable, or campus location at any time.

Fees & Expenses

Tuition fees listed are in effect for this academic year.

Registration Fee: $100.00
Textbooks: $2,200.00
Tuition Fee: $12,745.00
Optional Advanced Standing Fee: $100.00
Total Tuition & Fees: $15,045.00