Leadership for Diverse Communities

Counseling 253
Psychological and Social Issues in Counseling
Fall 2006
Tuesdays, 4:00 pm to 6:50 pm


Instructor: Carrie England, MS, CRC
Office: ED 62
Telephone: 278-0452
Email: cengland@csufresno.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Prerequisite: COUN 252

Course Description:
We are in an exciting time of change with how disability is understood as well as how to address the psychological and social issues of living with and adjusting to a disability. This course will approach each topic of interest from a variety of perspectives including those of persons with disabilities, family members, as well as professionals. To gain an appreciation of these areas, you will engage in lecture and small group discussions, give presentations, read relevant book chapters, and articles, and listen to the perspectives of disability professionals, family members, and persons with disabilities.

Welcome to Counseling 253!

Course Objectives:

1. Students will gain an appreciation of how disability is classified, measured, and understood within the context of contemporary American society.

2. Students will learn about the processes through which persons socially and psychologically adjust to living with a disability.

3. Students will learn about issues involved in living with a disability in such areas as quality of life, sexuality, and employment.

4. Students will understand how families provide care and support to their members with a disability and how they are impacted by their involvement.

5. Students will learn about the processes through which society forms various attitudes, myths, and stereotypes about persons with disabilities.

6. Students will enhance their oral and written professional presentation skills.


Required Texts:

Mackelprang, R., & Salsgiver, R. (1999). Disability: A diversity model approach in human service practice. Pacific Grove, CA: Brookes/Cole.
Smart, Julie (2001). Disability, Society, and the Individual. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers.

Recommended Texts (not required):
Szuchman, Lenore (2002). Writing with Style: APA Made Easy. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Group (Thompson Learning).

Course Requirements:

1. Reading Reactions

For any 5 classes prior to October 31, students need to bring a reading reaction essay that briefly summarizes and responds to the assigned readings. Summary should be brief and the essay should consist mostly of student reaction, comments, and questions about the assigned reading. Reading reactions are due at the beginning of class and should be approximately one page, typed, and double-spaced.

2. Take-Home Exams

Two take-home exams will be distributed during the course. The take-home exams will require essay and short-answer responses. Further information on the content of the exams will be discussed during the course. Exam 1 will be handed out on September 26 and will be due on October 3. Exam 2 will be handed out on November 7 and will be due on November 14. Late exams will not be accepted. No exceptions.

3. Presentations

Students will give an approximate 15-20 minute presentation on a topic of their choosing. Each presentation should include time for question and discussion and can address a number of possible issues pertaining to social and psychological aspects of disabilities (please see list below). To inform the professor on the topic area discussed, students will submit a presentation proposal per the guidelines outlined in the Annual NCRE Conference “Call for Proposals” document (handed out in class). The proposal is due September 19. Select students with excellent proposals will be asked to submit their proposal to NCRE in hopes of presenting at the NCRE conference in San Diego February 21-25, 2007.

4. Term-Paper

A 12 page term paper is required on the same topic covered in the class presentation. Papers must be typed, double-spaced, use American Psychological Association 5th edition style, and be based on at least 15 professional journal articles, books, or book chapters. A maximum of 3 Internet-based resources may be used for the paper. At least 10 of the paper references (not including Internet-based materials) must have a publication date no older than 1994. An outline of the paper along with the citations of three publications you will use for the paper is due September 26 . The completed paper is due on November 28. Late papers will not be accepted. No exceptions.


Possible Presentation and Paper Topics
(see instructor if you would like to do your presentation on a topic not listed below)


Family Caregiving
Spirituality and Disability
Multiculturalism
Substance Abuse and Disability
Traumatic Brain Injury
Learning Disabilities
Attention Deficient Disorder
Spinal Cord Injury
Cerebral Palsy
Blindness and Visual Deficits
Hearing Impairments
Cerebral Palsy
Mental Retardation
Autism
Asperger Syndrome
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Schizophrenia
Diabetes
Mobility Disabilities
Sports and Disability
Veterans Issues and Disability
Sexuality and Disability
carpal tunnel syndrome
cancer
multiple sclerosis
arthritis



Please turn cell phones and pagers to silent mode before coming to class.
Please do not leave the room during presentations by guests or fellow students.
Thank you.



Course Evaluation:

Requirements Point value Total Possible

Reading Reactions 10 points each 50

Take-Home Exams 100 points each 200

Class Presentation 100 points 100

Attendance for CP’s 2 points p/day 10

Proposal 10 points 10

Term Paper 130 points 130

Total 500 points

Grading:
450-500 points A
400-449 points B
350-399 points C
300-349 points D
Below 300 points F


University Policies

Policy on Students with Disabilities. Upon identifying themselves to the instructor and the university, students with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodation for learning and evaluation. For more information , contact Services to Students with Disabilities in Madden Library 1049 (278-2811).

Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism. Cheating is the actual or attempted practice of fraudulent or deceptive acts for the purpose of improving one's grade or obtaining course credit; such acts also include assisting another student to do so. Typically, such acts occur in relation to examinations. However, it is the intent of this definition that the term 'cheating' not be limited to examination situations only, but that it include any and all actions by a student that are intended to gain an unearned academic advantage by fraudulent or deceptive means. Plagiarism is a specific form of cheating which consists of the misuse of the published and/or unpublished works of others by misrepresenting the material (i.e., their intellectual property) so used as one's own work. Penalties for cheating and plagiarism range from a 0 or F on a particular assignment, through an F for the course, to expulsion from the university. For more information on the University's policy regarding cheating and plagiarism, refer to the Schedule of Courses (Legal Notices on Cheating and Plagiarism) or the University Catalog (Policies and Regulations)

Computers. At California State University, Fresno, computers and communications links to remote resources are recognized as being integral to the education and research experience. Every student is required to have his/her own computer or have other personal access to a workstation (including a modem and a printer) with all the recommended software. The minimum and recommended standards for the workstations and software, which may vary by academic major, are updated periodically and are available from Information Technology Services (http://www/csufresno.edu/ITS/) or the University Bookstore. In the curriculum and class assignments, students are presumed to have 24-hour access to a computer workstation and the necessary communication links to the University's information resources.

Disruptive Classroom Behavior. The classroom is a special environment in which students and faculty come together to promote learning and growth. It is essential to this learning environment that respect for the rights of others seeking to learn, respect for the professionalism of the instructor, and the general goals of academic freedom are maintained. ... Differences of viewpoint or concerns should be expressed in terms which are supportive of the learning process, creating an environment in which students and faculty may learn to reason with clarity and compassion, to share of themselves without losing their identities, and to develop and understanding of the community in which they live . . . Student conduct which disrupts the learning process shall not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action and/or removal from class.


Topics and Readings

NOTE: Readings listed each day are to be read prior to class that day.

August 29: course introduction game; overview of syllabus and course requirements; quality of life concepts; video “Without Pity”; discussion

Read M&S; chapter 1; Smart chapter 1

September 5: language, classification, and culture; paternalism, power, and control; social attitudes and stereotypes; video “First Encounters”; discussion; course introduction game

Read M&S; chapter 2 and 3; Smart chapter 6; handouts

September 12: family reactions and caregiving; video “Finding Nemo”; discussion

Read M&S; chapter 8; Smart chapter 8 ;handouts

September 19: video “The Ringer”; discussion

Proposals due
Read M&S; chapter 9 and 10; Smart chapter 7; handouts

September 26: video “ Disability Culture Rap” and discussion;

Outline of Term Paper due
Read Smart chapter 3-4; handouts
Exam 1 handed out

October 3: Sexuality, sexual expression, and sexual abuse; video “Active Partners”; discussion

Exam 1 Due
Read M&S; chapter 13; Smart chapter 9; handouts

October 10: Video “Belinda: Living with Traumatic Brain Injury”; Guest speakers Kevin Shirey and Linda Ray; class discussion

Read M&S; chapter 3 (review) and 12; handouts

October 17: Disability History in the United States; Disability and the Law; Moral vs Medical model; Independent Living Movement and philosophy; Guest speaker Bob Hand; class discussion

Read M&S; chapters 4 and 5; Smart chapter 2; handouts

October 24: Living with Mobility Disabilities and Learning Disabilities; video “Understanding Learning Disabilities”; Guest speaker Edwinne Pickard; discussion

Read M&S; chapter 6 ,7, and 11

October 31: NO CLASS (HAPPY HALLOWEEN!)

November 7: Student presentations and discussion.

Exam 2 handed out

November 14: Student presentations and discussion.

Exam 2 due

November 21: Student presentations and discussion.

November 28: Student presentations and discussion.

Term papers due

December 5: Student presentations and course wrapup.


This syllabus and schedule are subject to change. If you were absent from class it is your responsibility to check on announcements made while you were absent.


Copyright: You will be provided with digital and/or print materials to support your learning in this course. As all of these materials are proprietary in nature, and most are protected by copyright, you may not reproduce or retain any of the materials for purposes other than class work.