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Short Course

Disability Confidence for Educational Practitioners

This Disability Confidence for Educational Practitioners short course is designed to empower education professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to effectively engage in conversations and implement inclusive pedagogies related to disabilities within educational settings. 

The course equips practitioners with comprehensive disability awareness, academic discourse around disability, ways of representing disabled people positively, and with practical strategies for action research with learners, related to perceptions of disability.

Why QMU?

  • Staff running this course are themselves disabled and have real world experience of working in inclusive education in academia and in the classroom.
  • All our courses blend theory with practice to ensure you are learning skills you can put to use in your work
  • Our resources are solidly linked to an evidence-based intervention which enhances positive responses to disabled adults and children.

Who is this course for?

This short course is ideal for educators, professional services staff, school counsellors, and education professionals who seek to enhance their ability to discuss disability confidently and contribute to the creation of inclusive educational settings.

Disability Confidence for Educational Practitioners: The course in brief

What will I learn on the course?

Participants completing this short course will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to initiate informed conversations about disability with learners and their families, to advocate for inclusive pedagogies, and to research what works effectively in their own context. This credential enhances professional credibility and contributes to a more inclusive and supportive educational community.

By the end of the course what will I be able to do?

By the end of this course participants will be :
  • aware of different ways of thinking about disability and how different modes of thinking impact learning and development;
  • knowledgeable concerning disability positive learning environments that represent diverse abilities and promote equitable participation;
  • able to engage effectively with students, parents, and colleagues about disability in a sensitive and empathetic manner;
  • able to create representative and accessible teaching Materials: we will explore  techniques for developing and using accessible teaching materials that positively represent disabled learners; and
  • able to conduct action research to determine the impact of  representative teaching materials and teaching activities in their own setting. 

How will I be taught?

How is the course delivered?

This module is delivered entirely online with recorded materials and tasks accessible 24/7 for you to work through at your own pace and convenience. 

Tutors will be available during the module to respond in real-time to queries and discussion posts.

How long does the course last for and how much time will I need to spend on it each week?

This course lasts for six weeks with the expectation of 42 hours’ personal study in an online asynchronous format.

Does the course have an assessment and if so, what sort of assessment will it be?

There is no assessment but you will be required to have worked through all the online material and formative tasks in order to gain your certificate of completion.

Who will be teaching me?

The module has been developed by two specialist tutors: Dr Clare Uytman and Dr. Sian Jones

Both are experienced researchers whose academic teaching is enriched by their own professional expertise from careers in inclusive education

What equipment will I need for this course?

You will require access to a computer or laptop and internet connectivity.

Student support/access to facilities

For the duration of your course you will be able to make use of our on-campus learning resource centre as well as access to our full range of online resources, including e-books and academic journals.

You will also have limited, mainly online access to Student Services support. Students with particular support requirements can contact the Disability Service.

As you will be studying with us for less than a full academic year you will not be provided with a personal academic tutor (PAT). However, any queries regarding your studies should be directed to the staff member leading the delivery of your course.

Disability Confidence for Educational Practitioners: Entry requirements, fees and application information

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this course therefore each applicant must decide if the level of study is suitable for them. You do not need to provide proof of your previous qualifications.

English language requirements

This course is taught and assessed in English. Applicants do not need to provide proof of their English language skills when applying for this course, but all applicants should consider whether they have sufficient English competence to study at this level. Applicants for this level of study would usually be able to demonstrate a level of English equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component score below 6.0.

Fees

£150

Application

Application is currently not open

Application deadline

TBC

Start date

September 2025 (TBC)

More information and QMU contacts

Start Your Application

Course Overview

Delivery
Online
Duration
6 weeks
Start Date
September 2025