THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

(SOWK (2007) - SOCIAL DISABILITY STUDIES

TUTORIAL QUESTIONS – Semester III, June – July 2017

TUTORS: (i) Mrs. Teresina Sieunarine 620-8365 (ii) Mrs. Nicole Cowie

1) The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Disability Policy Document states
that the University has a responsibility, “to provide the appropriate level of disability
awareness needed to foster an inclusive community and to ensure appropriate
training for those directly working with disabled students.”

Identify the initiatives that were undertaken by the University to carry out this commitment
and describe what impact, if any, the innovations have on the University’s programmes.
Make recommendations for a way forward in order to achieve the desired goals
and to develop sustainability. (Caribbean Dialogue, Article 1, Dr. Innette Cambridge).

2) What similarities and differences are there between disability studies and women’s studies in
terms of scope, development and struggle?

3) In our society there seems to be a lack of general public knowledge about disability and
disabling conditions.
Discuss the importance of a society to be informed about this issue and state how
disability awareness could be promoted in the society.

4) Discuss how perceptions of disability have influenced the treatment of persons

with disabilities in the society. Identify the approach/approaches that would result
in their development as enfranchised, empowered and independent human beings.

5) Distinguish between pre-lingual, post-lingual, lingual and non-lingual deafness.

Compare and contrast the bio-psycho-social implications of having acquired deafness
as opposed to congenital deafness.

6) According to the World Health Organization, "Sexuality is an integral part of the

personality of everyone: man, woman and child; it is a basic need and aspect of
being human that cannot be separated from other aspects life."
Discuss the importance of persons with disabilities being allowed to exercise their
rights as sexual beings.

7) “All schools should provide education for all students irrespective of ability, ethnicity
and impairment

In your opinion, to what extent is this possible? Discuss the pros and cons of this statement.
8) Examine the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities Document.

Explain what this document is all about. Why is it important for persons with disabilities in
our nation? Describe the implications there are for the government and state how you as a
citizen can promote it and utilize it to enhance your personal life and the lives of others in the
society.

9) Research data indicate that people with disabilities living in developing countries like
Trinidad and Tobago are usually poor. Discuss the importance of understanding the
relationship between poverty and disability. How could advocacy be used as a tool of
empowerment to eliminate social exclusion of persons with disabilities living in
impoverished conditions?

10) Access to information in order to gain equal knowledge and equal opportunity is a human right.
Assistive technology plays a critical role in this regard, but persons with disabilities (pwds) still
encounter major challenges in their efforts to exercise their right to access information.

Discuss whether or not non-access is an infringement on their rights. Describe how assistive
technology could enable persons with disabilities (pwds} to develop independence and be
active participants in their community.