Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) - CPS / DPS

Program Overview

The Certificate in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) equips professionals with specialized knowledge and skills to provide high-quality support to deafblind individuals. Covering the complexities of deafblindness, the program addresses societal attitudes, laws, and services, empowering participants to advocate for deafblind rights and foster their participation as active citizens.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Certificate in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) course is based on the belief that all people living with deafblindness have a right to be supported by professionals who have the requisite knowledge and skills to provide high quality service. It has been designed and developed by some of the most experienced practitioners and academics in the field of deafblindness, and is enhanced by the inclusion of teaching materials created by those with lived experience of deafblindness. The course will cultivate your knowledge and skills to be able to develop, challenge and question contemporary practice in the context of supporting deafblind children and adults. You will develop an in-depth yet foundational knowledge of both congenital and acquired deafblindness. You will cover the definitions of the condition, its causes and the impact of the impairment, paying particular attention to the substantial diversity of the deafblind population. The course also covers relevant law and public policy, as it applies to deafblind people, their rights and their needs.

Outline:

Diploma

• Understanding & Assessing Deafblindness / Dual Sensory Loss 20 credits
• This module aims to consolidate and build upon knowledge obtained in the understanding deafblindness module in the Certificate in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies).
You will have opportunity to explore the functional and clinical assessments used in the investigation of sensory function and sensory integration and demonstrate ability to interpret audiometric and ophthalmic reports. In turn, you will extend your knowledge of how outcomes of such assessments inform the design of strategies to support a deafblind person’s access to communication, mobility and information.
• Understanding & Assessing Communication, Movement and Mobility 20 credits
• This module has been designed to consolidate knowledge obtained in the Certificate in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) ‘Understanding communication, movement and mobility’ module.
The module will equip you with knowledge of human communication, linguistics, interaction, mobility, movement and orientation. Furthermore, you will consider how these factors are impacted by deafblindness and the support available to maintain a deafblind person’s communication, movement, mobility and orientation. This will include a consideration of the impact of sensory, social and educational histories on a deafblind person.
• It is expected that you will evaluate and critically consider the appropriateness of chosen communication methods and how assessment of linguistic and communication needs of deafblind people informs effective intervention.
More specifically, you will critically analyse the movement, mobility and orientation needs of deafblind people and evaluate the impact of the nature of the deafblindness, and other relevant circumstances.
• Deafblindness: Independent Study 20 credits
• You will explore models of reflection, reflective and critically reflective writing, and research and evidence informed approaches to professional practice.
• In the module, you will focus on your own practice, and draw upon relevant evidence to inform a project or piece of development work for the benefit of deafblind people, within which you will reflect upon the impact of the programme on your professional competence and capability.
This includes reflection upon the rationale for the work, what happened and evaluation of the impact of the work upon deafblind people.

Certificate

• Understanding Communication, Movement and Mobility 20 credits
This includes the components of human communication, processes of language development and the impact of deafblindness on existing and established communication methods, and the impact of both multiple conditions and the environment on deafblind people’s movement, mobility and orientation skills.
• You will cover the impact of deafblindness on socialisation, and explore wider factors impacting upon deafblind people’s communication, including motivation, fatigue and physical ability.
The module also covers the important role that touch plays in deafblind people’s communication. You will explore both the impact of congenital deafblindness on the acquisition of movement, mobility and orientation skills, and the impact of acquired deafblindness on these skills.
• The module will also cover the function and application of a range of communication methods that deafblind people may adopt, and the various methods used to support the development or maintenance of movement, mobility and orientation skills.
This will enable you to explain the approaches practitioners need to take in order to support deafblind people to participate as full citizens, in the context of their communication and mobility.
• Law, Public Policy and Deafblindness 20 credits
• This module has been designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge of societal factors, values and civil rights agenda as they apply to the full and active citizenship of deafblind people.
This includes personal and social attitudes, and consideration of the tensions that may emerge from a rights based approach, particularly in the context of limited resources and political agendas.
• You will cover aspects of citizenship, and health, education and social care legislation and guidance, exploring how this may impact on the lives of deafblind individuals, their families and carers, and how values and attitudes influence the development and use of such legislation and guidance.
• Understanding Deafblindness / Dual Sensory Loss 20 credits
• This module has been designed to provide knowledge of the categories, characteristics, main causes and terminology associated with deafblindness.
Moreover, you will analyse how internal and external factors such as the environment, ongoing changes in condition, communication, mobility, access to information and assumptions about deafblindness can enable and or disable an individual living with deafblindness. In turn, knowledge will be used to evaluate the sensory similarities and differences between how sighted / hearing and deafblind individuals access, perceive and interact with the world.

Assessment:

• Certificate
• All three modules have a summative assessment allowing you to demonstrate that you have met all the learning outcomes for that module.
All learning outcomes must be met in order to pass the module, and all three modules must be passed to gain the award.
• In order to take into account that learners have different styles and also need to develop a range of capabilities you will undertake a variety of different types of assessment.
This includes:
• written assignments
• open book examination
• case study based assignments
• Diploma
• All three modules have a summative assessment allowing you to demonstrate that you have met all the learning outcomes for that module.
All learning outcomes must be met in order to pass the module, and all three modules must be passed to gain the award.
• In order to take into account that learners have different styles and also need to develop a range of capabilities you will undertake a variety of different types of assessment.
This includes:
• written assignments
• evidence-informed project work
• case study based assignments

Teaching:

• The Certificate and Diploma in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) are delivered online, though you can of course visit the campus in person to make use of the library or meet for tutorials with your personal tutor.
The platforms used for online delivery are:
• Microsoft Teams: synchronous online sessions, assignment workshops, personal tutorials.
• Both the Certificate and Diploma consist of three 20 credit modules, each of which is completed over a period of ten weeks.
Each module commences with a live online synchronous Module Launch, in which the learning outcomes and summative assessment are explained and explored. The module content is aligned to both the learning outcomes and summative assessment. Each module also includes a live online synchronous assignment workshop, in which your progress can be reviewed and any questions about the assignment addressed. The tenth and final week of the module is reserved for private study as you complete your assignment ready for submission.

Careers:

• Generating knowledge and promoting excellence in the field of deafblindness are key features of the course.
• The course provides CPD opportunities to those with existing qualifications in deafblindness at Level 2 and 3 enabling you to undertake more complex assessments and care and support planning.
The course supports people currently in practice to develop a range of transferable skills enhancing employability within the sector: specialist assessment; professional reflection; professional and academic writing; ICT skills; independent research skills.

Other:

• Helen Keller, author, disability rights advocate, political activist and perhaps one of the world’s most well-known deafblind people described life as either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
The Certificate and Diploma in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) play an important role in equipping the workforce with the knowledge and skills to support deafblind people to enjoy this daring adventure.
• Dr Peter Simcock, Course Lead
• The most experienced practitioners and academics in the field of deafblindness have pooled knowledge and resources to produce the best materials and teaching the field can offer, enhanced by the inclusion of material from those with lived experience of deafblindness.
• You will gain the knowledge and skills required to meet statutory requirements and duties in England and Wales in relation to those with deafblindness.
• The course draws on research material from across the world, especially the Nordic countries, USA and Canada, recognising the contributions these particular countries have made to the knowledge and evidence base in the field.
• You will consider the particular needs of diverse groups of deafblind people, a population known to be highly heterogeneous.
• This course is suitable for those with current personal or practice based experience of deafblindness, who wish to seek academic and professional qualification in the field.
• Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city.
We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
• The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
• Some of the good reasons why you should study here
• How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
• Information relevant to applicants from your country
This includes the specialist deafblind library, which was formerly held by Sense and then Deafblind UK. There are also numerous eBooks available online, which the library will help you access.
• The Centre for Academic Success (CAS) is the University’s central learning development service, and can support you to improve your academic skills.
CAS offers workshops, one-to-one and group tutorials and provides a range of online resources. For students completing courses online, tutorials are available via email or MS Teams and can be booked using the online booking system.
• The IT HelpDesk can be contacted via telephone, email or an App (online self-service portal).

• UK students
• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• View fees for continuing students.
• Award: CPS
• Starting: Mar 2025
• Mode
• Duration
• Fees
• Part Time
• 38 weeks
• £820 per 20 credit module
• Apply Online
• Award: DPS
• Starting: Mar 2025
• Mode
• Duration
• Fees
• Part Time
• 38 weeks
• Show fees
• Apply Online
• £820 per 20 credits
• Year 1 - 60 credits
• Fees for Part-time students
• This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis.
• The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
• International students
• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• View fees for continuing students.
• Award: CPS
• Starting: Mar 2025
• Mode
• Duration
• Fees
• Part Time
• 38 weeks
• £820 per 20 credit module
• Apply Online
• Award: DPS
• Starting: Mar 2025
• Mode
• Duration
• Fees
• Part Time
• 38 weeks
• Show fees
• Apply Online
• £820 per 20 credits
• Year 1 - 60 credits
• Fees for Part-time students
• This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis.
• The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.