REH205

Cross-Cultural Competencies in Rehabilitation

Traditionally, every culture has had ways of dealing with rehabilitation. In Canada, we have a culture that highly values the self-made person, and our interventions in rehabilitation often reflect this. 

Professionals are often trained to concentrate on clinical goals while overlooking the larger socio-cultural matrix in which their clients live. In this course, you will learn the essential components of cultural competency in rehabilitation, including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Recognizing cultural differences
  • Applying adaptability to practice methods
  • Working with translators
  • Developing cultural understanding of disability, pain, and healing
  • Raising your own cultural IQ
  • Building trust

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This course is available at the following time(s) and location(s):

Section Session(s) Date/time Campus Instructor(s) Cost Registration
REH205-SU1144 2 Summer 2014 Sur Avita Sharma TBA Registration opens winter 2013

What will I learn?

By the end of this course, you should be able to do the following:

  • Explain strategies used to increase your ability to recognize cultural differences and raise your own cultural IQ as a rehabilitation professional
  • Identify ways to adapt rehabilitation planning and practice methods, including how to improve applicability, validity, and accuracy of measures to obtain a desired outcome and enhance performance and skills
  • Effectively use language, including how to work with interpreters, avoid inadvertent use of colloquialisms and cultural references, and deconstruct formal/technical jargon
  • Demonstrate an understaning of the variations of cultural attitudes and beliefs about disability, pain, and healing, as well as the institutional issues that impact new Canadians in a rehabilitation setting
  • Demonstrate an understaning of the practical applicability of ethical codes associated with serving culturally diverse clients within a rehabilitation context
  • Explain how to integrate competencies into your service to assist with designing appropriate rehabilitation plans and treatment methods

How will I learn?

This course consists of lectures, case studies, role-playing, and group discussions. Classes are during the day, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, at SFU Surrey.

Besides attending all 14 hours of classes, you must participate in discussions and review all handouts.

How will I be evaluated?

We will evaluate your performance in this course through individual and group exercises.

Textbooks and learning materials

There is no textbook for this course. On the first day, you will receive a binder containing course materials.

Professional development credits