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415.651.92
Facilitating Family Adaptation to Loss and Disability II

Location
NIH - Bethesda, MD
Term
1st Term
Department
Health, Behavior and Society
Credit(s)
2
Academic Year
2024 - 2025
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
Monday, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

415.650

Description
Provides an overview of disability awareness and the inter- and intrapersonal experience of disability, as well as a family-system theoretical approach to adaptation to disability. Reviews specific examples of adaptation include family adaptation, adaptation in children, adolescents and adults with disabilities, and sibling adaptation. Covers topics including adaptation throughout the lifespan, acute vs. episodic vs. chronic illness, visible vs. invisible disabilities, cancer, terminal illness, and counseling techniques that would facilitate adjustment for these situations
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the adaptation process and main issues for: children, adolescents and adults with disabilities, parents who have a child with a illness/disability, siblings of persons with illness/disabilities, those with physical disabilities, invisible illness/disability, cancer diagnoses and terminal illness
  2. Analyze cases in terms of adaptation theories discussed in class
  3. Develop counseling interventions for couples, children and families who are affected with disabilities, chronic illness, cancer or terminal illness
  4. Describe the grief associated with adaptation to terminal illness for children and adults
  5. Recognize their own history with illness/disability, including attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and counter-transference issues that affect their development as a genetic counselor
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 85% Written Assignment(s)
  • 15% Participation
Enrollment Restriction
ScM in Genetic Counseling students
Special Comments

Grades submitted at the end of the term.