Health
Developmental Service Worker (DSW)
Support children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities across life stages.
TorontoScarboroughHamiltonLondonEdmontonCalgary
📚 Key Topics
Person-centred supportPositive behaviour supportAugmentative communicationCommunity inclusionTask analysis
💼 Career Outcomes
- Developmental Service Worker
- Support Worker
- Community Support Facilitator
- Educational Assistant
🤖 This is a self-paced study guide. Stuck on any lesson? Tap the tutor in the corner — it knows this program inside out.
1
Term 1 · Disability Studies
BeginnerPerson-Centred Support
🎯 Objective: Build an individual support plan.
A strengths-based approach: see the person first, not the diagnosis. Advocacy, community inclusion, and positive behaviour support. The plan belongs to the person, not the system.
🧪 Lab: Draft a support plan for a fictional client.
✅ Self-check: What is the difference between 'centred on' and 'centred in' a person?
Communication & Assistive Tech
🎯 Objective: Use augmentative communication.
AAC devices, visual schedules, and active listening. Communication is a human right — find the method that works for each individual.
🧪 Lab: Create a visual schedule.
✅ Self-check: Why is presuming competence so important?
2
Term 2 · Practice & Field
IntermediatePromoting Independence
🎯 Objective: Design skill-building activities.
Task analysis, forward/backward chaining, positive reinforcement, and safety planning. The goal is always more independence, never more dependence.
🧪 Lab: Task analysis for a daily living skill (e.g. making a bed).
✅ Self-check: When would you use backward chaining instead of forward?