CEP 871
MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF DISABILITY
FALL SEMESTER, 2005
MONDAYS, 7:10-10:00 PM
224 ERICKSON HALL

Instructors: Timothy Tansey, Ph.D., CRC, CVE
464 Erickson Hall
432-0273
e-mail: ttansey@msu.edu


Office Hours: Tuesdays from 2-4 pm or by appointment. Please feel free to contact me anytime that you have questions or need assistance. E-mail is generally the best method to get in touch with me

Overview: This course is the first in a two-semester sequence exploring disability issues that are particularly
relevant to rehabilitation counselors. CEP 871 will take an individual perspective, focusing primarily on medical and psychological dimensions of disability. CEP 872 will emphasize the psychological, social, and environmental issues experienced by persons with disabilities.

Purposes of the Course: This course is designed to assist graduate students in vocational rehabilitation counseling
to develop a working knowledge of the medical aspects of disability. A rehabilitation counselor does not require an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology, as the counselor is not being prepared to diagnose or treat the disability. However, in order to provide effective services, rehabilitation counselors must be able to understand medical terminology, the short-term and long- term implications of a disability, and be able to communicate effectively about these issues with the client and a broad range of medical and allied health professionals.

Basic Course Objectives: Students will:
• Become familiar with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities often seen by rehabilitation counselors including their etiology, common symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and maintenance strategies.
• Learn basic medical terminology necessary to communicate with customers and other health care professionals and in order to read and understand medical reports.
• Become proficient at using electronic and other information sources to obtain information about disabling conditions.
• Learn to locate, evaluate and use information on the World Wide Web.
• Become familiar with the psychological processes involved in adjusting to disabilities; recognize major characteristics of disability (such as time and manner of onset, progression and prognosis, etc.) that are likely to impact adjustment.
• Recognize the ways in which gender, ethnicity, age, and other personal characteristics influence the experience of disability.
• Learn to translate the medical aspects of disabling conditions to their functional limitations and residual capacities as a basis for rehabilitation planning.
• Develop and/or improve cooperative learning and team work skills.


Textbook: Brodwin, M. G., Tellez, F. & Brodwin, S.K. (Eds.) (2002) Medical, psychosocial and vocational
aspects of disability, 2nd Ed. Athens, GA: Elliott & Fitzpatrick.

Additional handouts and resource materials will be provided either online or in class by the instructors and guest presenters.


Internet Resources: Counselors, students and clients are increasingly utilizing the Internet for information and
ideas about health concerns, medications, medical treatment options and disability related issues. As the number of web sites related to medical and disability issues continues to grow, the first question that all users should ask is “Is the Web site reputable?” While the Internet is a quick and easy resource, counselors do have a responsibility to be critical consumers of online resources, and to educate and encourage their clients to use only those that hold good credentials. Even then, online resources should be used only as learning tools and all information should be checked with the client’s physician or health care professional.

At a minimum, the following criteria should be used to evaluate the Web sites:

1. Do not rely on just one Web site for advice or treatment information.
2. Look for Web sites that have medical experts who review their articles and information.
3. Look for sites who belong to Health On the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch), an organization of medical Web sites that has a code of conduct and standards for information.
4. Look for recent dates when browsing health articles.
5. Avoid sites that are set up by individuals (e.g., John’s Cancer site). Sites that are affiliated with known universities, medical centers, or professional organizations are more likely to provide credible information.
6. Avoid all sites that offer online doctors who promise treatment without an examination.

Web References: www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html
www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/
http://medlineplus.gov/

Accommodations Policy: If you have a disabling condition and need special accommodations in order to learn effectively and to fulfill the course requirements, please contact the instructor as soon as possible about your needs. Also, students with disabilities should contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) at (517) 353-9642.

Writing Center: The MSU Writing Center is a wonderful resource available to all students & faculty. If you need
assistance with honing your writing skills, improving your skills in using the worldwide web for research, or related issues, contact them in 300 Bessey Hall (432-3610). You can also find them on the web at http://writing.msu.edu.

Class Format: Classes will involve, lecture, discussion, guest presenters, group activities and quizzes. During
the last 5 weeks, the final hour of class time will be used by student presentation teams.

Grading: The grading in this course will be based on several factors:

Class Participation 10%
Quizzes (Best 7 out of 8 scores) 30%
Two Case Preparation Assignments: 20%
Mid-semester examination: 20%
Final examination: 20%


Coursework Description:
1. Attendance and class participation: Attendance and participation in class discussions are an essential component to learning in this class and constitute 10% of your grade. In order to actively participate in group discussions, it is necessary that all assigned and supplemental readings be completed prior to class meetings. Further, for certain topics, students must review online videos prior to coming to class and achieve a score of 70% or higher on each quiz related to a video in order to count at having “participated.” Aggregate scores for participation will be provided after the midterm and before the final exam. Videos may be repeated prior to the class they are assigned to increase overall score. Videos will be assigned in class the week before they are due.

2. Quizzes: There will be 8 unannounced quizzes throughout the semester. Quiz grades will be calculated using the best 7 scores. The quizzes will cover all material in the required readings as well as all material covered in class since the previous quiz. The format of the quizzes will vary depending on the subject matter and may include multiple choice and/or short answer questions. Prompt arrival in class is required. Although roll call will not be taken, the quizzes will begin promptly at 7:15 p.m. Quizzes will not be handed out to students who arrive late to class or given on a make up basis. If you miss the quiz, you lose the score.

3. Mid-Semester and Final examinations: The mid-semester examination will include all material covered during the first half of the semester. The final exam will include all material covered from the mid-semester exam to end the semester. The exams will include both multiple choice and short answer questions

4. Grading of quizzes and exams: The quizzes and exams will not be graded on a curve, so you are encouraged to study together and help each other achieve maximum mastery of the material. Grades will be assigned as follows:
90% or more correct: 4.0
85% or more correct: 3.5
80% or more correct: 3.0
70% or more correct: 2.5
60% or more correct: 2.0

Case Preparation Assignments: The purpose of the case preparation assignments is to assist students in developing a format for preparing to meet with clients with a variety of disability characteristics. Two weeks prior to the due date, students will receive be assigned a topical area and a format for completing the case preparation assignment. Students are expected to identify and properly reference utilize and a minimum of three electronic or hard copy resources beyond the course text.

PROVISIONAL AGENDA

DATE TOPIC READINGS INSTRUCTOR/GUEST
PRESENTER

8/28 Introduction; Cooperative Learning;
Intro to Psychological Adjustment to
Disability Issues
Timothy N. Tansey, Ph.D.
9/4
Labor Day – No Class

9/11 Psychological Adjustment to Disability
& Anatomy Overview
Ch. 2
Electronic handouts
Timothy N. Tansey, Ph.D.

9/18 Developmental Disabilities
PDD
Cerebral Palsy
Ch. 10, 31
Electronic handouts Timothy N. Tansey, Ph.D.
9/25

Alcoholism & Substance Abuse
Hearing Impairment (Self-Study) Ch. 3, 4, 12 Timothy N. Tansey, Ph.D.
10/2 Learning Disabilities
Attention Deficit Disorders
Ch. 25, 30
Electronic Handouts TBA
10/9
Chronic Pain
Sickle Cell (Self-Study)
First Case Study Due
Ch. 11, 20, 16
Presenters handouts
TBA

10/16 Amputations and
prosthetics
Ch. 23, 24,
Presenters handouts
TBA
10/23 Mid-Semester Exam
Vision Impairments Ch.12, 13
Presenters handouts TBA

10/30 Spinal Cord Injury
& Rheumatic Diseases
Ch. 22, 21
Presenters handouts TBA


11/6 Psychiatric Disabilities
Hemophilia (Self-Study) Ch 9, 6, 15
Presenters handouts
TBA
11/13 Traumatic Brain Injury
Epilepsy (Self-Study) Ch. 29. 27, Malachy Bishop, Ph.D., CRC
11/20 Cardiovascular Disease
Respiratory Dysfunction
Ch. 19, 18
Presenters handouts
TBA

11/27 Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Second Case Study Due Ch 28, 34,
Presenters handouts
Timothy N. Tansey, Ph.D.
12/4 Cerebrovascular Accidents
Cancer (Self-Study)
Class round-up
Ch.32,14
Presenters handouts Timothy N. Tansey, Ph.D.
12/11 Final Exam:
8:00-10:00 p.m.
Note: Instructors reserve the right to modify or revise the agenda based on new information or the needs of the presenters. The class will be notified in class and/or via e-mail of all changes in the agenda.

Academic Honesty
Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states that "The student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards." In addition, the (insert name of unit offering course) adheres to the policies on academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00, Examinations. (See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide and/or the MSU Web site: www.msu.edu.) Therefore, unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course assignments, including homework, lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any source. You are expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not submit course work you completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course. Also, you are not authorized to use the www.allmsu.com Web site to complete any course work in (insert course number here). Students who violate MSU rules may receive a penalty grade, including--but not limited to--a failing grade on the assignment or in the course. Contact your instructor if you are unsure about the appropriateness of your course work. (See also http://www.msu.edu/unit/ombud/honestylinks.html )