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PSY40890

Academic Year 2026/2027

Disability Policy Legislation (PSY40890)

Subject:
Psychology
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Psychology
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Christine Linehan
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module provides students with an in-depth and critical understanding of national and international legislation and evidence-based policy. The United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability has heralded significant change for persons with disability and the manner in which they are supported to live a life of their choosing. This module explores how the Irish state has responded to the Convention through the introduction of new legislation, policy and practice.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Identify key national and international disability policies and legislation.
2. Critically evaluate past and present disability policy and legislation.
3. Evaluate the efficacy of disability policy and legislation in Ireland.
4. Critically reflect on the impact of disability policy and legislation.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Proficient

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Proficient

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Proficient

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Proficient

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Proficient

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Proficient

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

30
Specified Learning Activities

80
Autonomous Student Learning

140
Total

250

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Material is delivered via lectures, peer & group work, reflective learning, active learning

Plagiarism is a serious offence. Plagiarism is the inclusion, in any form of assessment, of material without due acknowledgement of its original source. All assignments will be automatically screened by the Turnitin plagiarism detector, and the reports will be reviewed by the module coordinator Suspected cases of plagiarism are referred to the School of Psychology Academic Integrity Committee, and may result in serious penalties.

Avoid plagiarism by making sure your assignments are written in your own words, and that you have correctly cited all your sources using APA. Visit https://libguides.ucd.ie/academicintegrity for guidance on how to avoid plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct

Please note that the use of generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Google Bard etc.) is NOT permitted in the assessments for this module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Where taken as part of MSc in Disability students are required to comply with module requirements for this programme.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Individual essay to be detailed in class Week 14 Graded No
40
 Yes
Group Work Assignment: Project comprises a group presentation delivered to a panel of judges Week 7 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
40
 Yes
Participation in Learning Activities: This assessment is based on each individual's participation throughout the year. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
10
 Yes
Reflective Assignment: End of year reflection - more details will be provided in class. Week 14 Graded No
10
 Yes

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Online automated feedback provided through Brightspace

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 7 Thurs 09:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 10:00 - 12:50
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