Integrating disability studies concepts into occupational therapy education using service learning.

This article describes an occupational therapy educational program's experience with service-learning courses that has fostered student learning about service to the community and disability as a multidimensional construct. Faculty-reflective perspectives about disability and ways to enhance learnin...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:American Journal of Occupational Therapy Vol. 59; no. 5; pp. 546 - 554
Autores principales: Gitlow L, Flecky K
Formato: research Journal Article
Publicado: American Occupational Therapy Association Sep/Oct2005
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:This article describes an occupational therapy educational program's experience with service-learning courses that has fostered student learning about service to the community and disability as a multidimensional construct. Faculty-reflective perspectives about disability and ways to enhance learning about disability as a human experience are presented as an important consideration for health care education curriculum design and course development. Through review of educational evaluation described in research on service learning, the authors used a multi-method assessment matrix to capture students' perspectives on their service learning. The community project investigated accessibility issues that persons with disabilities encountered in social participation at community arts venues. Results from student surveys, interviews, focus groups, and journal entries indicated that service learning contributed to occupational therapy students' appreciation and understanding about disability as an individual, environmental, and societal construct.