SLHS1403

Communication disorders are often considered a "hidden" disability. These disorders occur in children and adults due to a variety of causes and have negative influences on the person’s health and wellbeing. However, due to the lack of overt visibility they may go unnoticed until the person suffering from the impairment has an opportunity to express themselves, and in some instances this may not be possible. The limitations are compounded further when communication disorders are present in comorbidity with other conditions, including physical disabilities. Hence, the roles of stakeholders, including family members, healthcare professionals, and policy makers are important to enhance the quality of life of individuals with communication disorders. In this course, we will learn about concepts in the Disability Studies literature including ableism, intersectionality, neurodiversity, and the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities, and their applicability to communication disorders. The goal of the course is to provide students with foundational knowledge in disability studies as it relates to speech, language, and hearing sciences in comparison to other fields within disability studies. Through course readings we will focus on the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities and those of family members and health care professionals who work with individuals who experience Autism, Aphasia, Dyslexia, Hearing impairment, Stuttering, Speech disorders, or cognitive limitations.