-
Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
-
University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose University of Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at University of Galway is all about here.
-
About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
-
Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
University of Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
-
Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
-
Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
-
Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
There are 128,000 University of Galway alumni worldwide. Stay connected to your alumni community! Join our social networks and update your details online.
-
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Header & Footer
University of Galway
Course Module Information
Course Modules
LW552: Foundational Theoretical Framework in Disability Law and Policy
12 months long | Credits: 10
This module will take you through various theories which have underpinned the disability rights movement we see today. We begin with ‘equality’, looking at the difference between equality of opportunity, equality of outcome and the relationship between discrimination and ‘reasonable accommodations’. Class 3 takes you to one of the core concepts in disability theory and advocacy: the Social Model of Disability. The social model has been described as one of the most important political tools in the disabled people’s movement, and its influence on legal reasoning is growing. The field of ‘critical disability studies’ has, however, highlighted some limitations of the Social Model, and we look at some of the debates about this. We also look at ‘normalization’ – a (mostly Scandinavian) approach which developed in the 1970’s and 1980’s out of dissatisfaction with the exclusion and institutionalization of people with disabilities from mainstream societies. Whilst acknowledging the important work done by normalization, we also look at some critiques of it. The Capabilities approach emerged out of theories of international development, but it has been put to increasing use in relation to disability by writers like Martha Nussbaum, and has been picked up by some human rights institutions. We move on to consider what post-structuralist and post-modern scholars have had to say about the language we use around disability and its effects, and introduce the class to the idea that disability is ‘socially constructed’.
(Language of instruction: English)
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
- LORNA CORMICAN:
Research Profile |
Email
- CARMEL FLYNN:
Research Profile |
Email
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.