Disability policy and services certificate
by Marijo McBride
Since 1988, the University of Minnesota’s Institute
on Community Integration (ICI) has offered students an opportunity for further
training in the field of developmental disabilities. This has occurred through its
disability policy and services certificate (certificate program). Its initial formation
started in 1987 in response to the University Affiliated Program charge to ICI to
promote interdisciplinary preservice training. At that time the ICI preservice training
coordinator, Jennifer York-Barr, established relationships with faculty across the
campus whose programs and interests intersected with issues, policy, and research
related to persons with disabilities. The certificate program was developed and
is being implemented through a collaborative effort of the College of Education
and Human Development’s Department of Educational Policy and Administration and
the Institute on Community Integration.
The disability policy and services certificate fills a niche in the University
of Minnesota’s curriculum. While there are numerous programs that provide graduate
students and professionals with specialized training in fields serving people with
disabilities, there is currently little opportunity for students to study the broad,
interdisciplinary nature of disability policy and services. As services to people
with disabilities becomes increasingly interwoven, professionals in the field need
to have an in-depth understanding of the myriad of policies affecting people with
disabilities, the variety of services available to people with disabilities, as
well as expertise in working with interdisciplinary teams. There is an increasing
shortage of professionals across disciplines that are trained in best practices
with people with disabilities. The certificate program can help prepare professionals
for providing high quality services to people with disabilities, through its curriculum
which combines theory and practice in an interdisciplinary framework. The certificate
program allows people from all disciplines to gain advanced training in best practices
for working with people with disabilities, and thus position them well for obtaining
a job working with people with disabilities in their fields.
The disability policy and services certificate presents an opportunity for students
to learn more broadly about the field of developmental disabilities, including the:
- History of efforts to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities
in their community.
- Significant legislation and laws impacting services and supports.
- State-of-the-art school, residential, work, and community programs.
- Perspectives and roles of other professional disciplines in providing services
and supports.
- Models of collaboration among professional disciplines.
- Current trends and issues in services and policies.
This 12-credit certificate program is designed to provide both graduate and undergraduate
students and community professionals the opportunity to study policy and services
for children, youth, and adults with disabilities. The objective of the program
is to offer participants a broad understanding of and comprehensive exposure to
the contemporary theories and practices of serving people with disabilities. While
the certificate focuses on the needs of people with all types of disabilities, it
particularly emphasizes the needs of people with developmental disabilities. It
has been established to promote interdisciplinary training opportunities for individuals
in a wide variety of fields, including special education, social work, nursing,
kinesiology and leisure studies, school psychology, vocational education, public
health, and rehabilitation. Participants learn together, share knowledge, expand
skills, and share perspectives on disability policy and service delivery strategies
and issues.
Program admission is open to degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking students who
meet the following criteria:
- A graduate-level student or undergraduate-level student who has completed
at least 60 undergraduate semester credits of coursework or equivalent. Students
must have completed a two- or four-year college degree or equivalent coursework.
- A minimum 2.50 grade point average (GPA).
There are three required components.
Required course (3 credits)
EdPA 5356—Disability Policy and Services
This course provides a broad overview of disability policy and services, and
introduces students to philosophical approaches to service provision, the evaluation
of policies and services affecting people with disabilities, and contemporary approaches
to providing services to people with disabilities throughout the life cycle. Specific
topics include education, self-advocacy, self-determination, employment, Person-Centered
Planning, health care, recreation, and technology. Community professionals, family
members, self-advocate, and University staff are invited to share their expert knowledge
and experience on specific topics. The course is offered twice annually.
Specialized coursework (6 credits)
This component broadens the student’s level of knowledge in disability policy and
services. Students must choose from courses offered across the University focusing
on disability policy, disability services, and/or interdisciplinary teaming. There
are over 50 approved courses in areas such as: communication disorders, family social
science, kinesiology, nursing, public affairs, or social work. list of approved
courses is available from the ICI training coordinator, Marijo McBride at
mcbri001@umn.edu.
Individualized learning experience (ILE) and interdisciplinary reflection
groups (3 credits/200 hours)
This component allows students to integrate and apply the information they have
learned in coursework. Students work with the ICI training coordinator to design
an individualized learning experience (ILE) in which they work with persons who
have disabilities in settings like schools, recreation centers, health clinics,
or human-service agencies.
Students also participate in at least six interdisciplinary reflection groups.
The reflection groups allow students to integrate field experience with coursework.
Reflection group topics have included: acquired hearing loss, health care transition
for youth with disabilities, and way finding. Community experts, ICI staff, and
University students have presented at the reflection groups.
The following are comments by students that have completed the disability policy
and services certificate:
- The certificate program really filled in some gaps in my learning and built
on my experiences in my major.
- I have not had friends or family who have developmental disabilities. The
extensive research I completed along with the human contact through my ILE helped
dispel myths for me.
- Through the program I gained a better understanding of other disciplines
and made accomplishments as part of a team.
For additional information about the
disability policy and services
certificate contact
Marijo McBride, training coordinator
Institute on Community Integration
103 Pattee Hall
150 Pillsbury Drive S.E.
Minneapolis MN 55455
612-624-6830
email: mcbri001@umn.edu
ICI Web site: http://ici.umn.edu
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