I want to know more about the development of postgraduate training programmes in disability studies, thanks!

Glad to hear that.

It’s really helpful.

The development of postgraduate training programmes in disability studies has not been limited to specific academic fields. Internationally, programmes exist in the fields of education, counselling psychology, social work as well as nursing and dental training. The programmes seem to have become more generic in nature over the years. Sweeney and Dalton (2007) identified similarities in contemporary international perspectives that indicate a clear shift of focus from a medical-based approach to a more holistic multi-disciplinary approach in disability studies. They recommend that compartmentalization in terms of disciplines, ideas and practice should be challenged and changed if disability studies is to go forward and offer an alternative, effective perspective. In view of the above arguments it seems imperative that postgraduate training in working with people with disabilities moves towards inter-professional training since it provides the students with opportunities to learn some specific information about interacting with the other professions and gain knowledge about the roles, knowledge and contributions that can be made by professions other than their own.

Sweeney, J, & Dalton, C (2007). Intellectual disability nurses’ interest in undertaking postgraduate education, Learning Disability Practice,2 (10) , 30–37.