Disability issues must be placed front and center in any discussion and pursuit of one world: global health. As individuals learn about disability issues and laws, communities become empowered for maximal inclusion and full participation of persons with disability. This presentation will discuss findings of a research paper on disability studies. The focus is to review, and promote a discussion of methods used by individuals and communities to learn about disability issues, and global health issues related to teaching and learning about disability. In addition, it is important to discuss the crucial accommodations that encourage, support and stimulate learning among persons with disability in elementary, middle and high schools, institutions of higher learning, in-service job-training programs, and life-long learning situations. Do current accommodations provide sufficient support for students and other learners with disability, or should more be done to encourage fuller participation in the learning process? In many countries, increasing life expectancy is associated with a higher level of disability among older segments of the population. At the same time, employers are now hiring skilled workers who can use the latest technological innovations. This heralds the need for training and retraining of the workforce. Increasing job mobility is also associated with workers’ need to relearn job skills, as they change careers. Thus, learning about disability and providing the necessary accommodations will become indispensable. Conference participants will make vital contributions to the dialogue on disability studies including historical and cultural perspectives, conceptual and theoretical foundations, methodological and policy concerns, and practice.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: (i) Articulate global health issues related to teaching and learning about disability; (ii) Discuss how individuals learn about disability in various global settings; (iii) Describe accommodations provided for persons with disability in elementary, middle and high schools, as well as institutions of higher learning, in-service job-training programs, and life-long learning situations.
Keywords: Disability Studies, Global Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.