VS24VK028 Communication with People with Disabilities

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Summer 2026
Extent and Intensity
10/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PaedDr. Yveta Odstrčilíková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Marta Kolaříková, Ph.D.
Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Contact Person: Ing. Lucie Kamrádová, Ph.D.
Timetable
Fri 6. 2. 12:15–15:30 C205, Fri 27. 2. 15:35–18:00 C201, Fri 15. 5. 15:35–18:00 C201
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims to provide students with comprehensive information on disability issues with a special emphasis on the specifics of communication of selected groups of individuals.The course focuses on the principles of dignified and effective communication with persons with disabilities.Instruction is interactive and conducted in an experiential way.It is based on the specific problem situations which persons with disabilities often face when dealing with the authorities, in healthcare and education.The emphasis is on familiarity with the techniques of proper communication and training in special skills.Students will gain knowledge of the specifics of particular target group of people with disabilities and the basic skills to use in contact with this group.
Learning outcomes
Professional knowledge:
Students acquire and demonstrate knowledge of basic findings in the field of communication, with particular emphasis on the specifics of the communication with disabled individuals.They can describe visual, mental, hearing and physical disability groups, including people with communication disorders and pervasive disorders.Students are well versed in the specificities resulting from various types and degrees of disability, they can assess the possibility of individual development of the individual and they are familiar with the offer of educational and counselling services.¨

Professional skills:
Students are well versed in the specific communication of selected types of disability, they know the possibilities of compensation and the use of methods of alternative and augmentative communication so as to be able to communicate with clients in practice both in social services and in public administration.They are familiar with the relevant field literature, can locate, interpret and apply the gained information in practice.They are able to integrate the acquired knowledge to the needs of the practice in the field.

General Qualification:
Students understand the importance of the adequacy of communication with individuals with disabilities and potential risks of failure or imbalance of communication in their future career.At the same time, the methods of the course will encourage the development of critical thinking, creativity and the students' ability to make decisions independently and responsibly.By completing the course, students will be eligible not only to use their knowledge and skills for a specific job, but also to respond better to the specific communication of clients with various degrees of disability.Simultaneously, the methods of the course will encourage development.
Syllabus
  • 1. Communication - its importance in human life, verbal and non-verbal, specifics of communication with persons with disabilities.
  • 2. Individuals with disabilities, the definition of the target group, a family with a disabled individual, societal attitudes, myths and prejudices.Current trends in approach to persons with disabilitiesSystem of care for individuals with disabilities from birth to old age, including current legislative changes aimed at inclusive education
  • 3. Individuals with visual impairment: classification, aetiology.Specificity of development of individuals with visual impairments.Assistive devices.Principles of communication.Braille, walking with a white cane, walking with a guide.Problematic situations.
  • 4. Individuals with mental disabilities: classification, aetiology.Developmental specificity of individuals with mental disabilities.Principles of correct communication.Problematic situations.
  • 5. Communication with individuals with impaired communication skills, with special attention to clarity and fluency of speech disorders and aphasia.Problematic situations.
  • 6. Individuals with hearing impairment: classification, etiology, specifics of communication of people with cochlear implants.Oral speech, principles of lip reading, sign language, Czech sign language, finger alphabet.Problematic situations.
  • 7. An individual with disabilities: classification, aetiology.Developmental specificity of individuals with physical disabilities.Assistive devices.Principles of communication.
  • 8. Communication with individuals with pervasive developmental disorders.
  • 9. Alternative and augmentative communication.
  • 10. Summary
Literature
    required literature
  • BENDOVÁ, Petra. Alternativní a augmentativní komunikace. Hradec Králové: Gaudeamus, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7435-508-0.
  • FINKOVÁ, Dita a LibušeLUDÍKOVÁ. Specifika komunikace s osobami se zrakovým postižením. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2013. ISBN 978-80-244-3696-8.
  • KRHUTOVÁ, Lenka. Komunikace v kontextu sociální práce s klienty se zdravotním postižením [CD-ROM]. Ostrava: Ostravská univerzita v Ostravě, 2013. ISBN 978-80-7464-411-5.
  • PAROUBKOVÁ, Markéta. Proč?: učebnice k rozvoji komunikace. Olomouc: Balanc, o.s. – Společnost pro vyrovnávání příležitosti, 2015. ISBN 978-80-260-8874-5.
  • BARTOŇOVÁ, Miroslava; HÁDKOVÁ, Kateřina; KVĚTOŇOVÁ, Lea. Intervence a edukace dětí s těžkým a souběžným postižením více vadami v raném a předškolním věku a mezioborovém kontextu. Praha: PedF UK, 2024. ISBN 978-80-7603-440-2.
  • LUDÍKOVÁ, Libuše a kol. Specifika komunikace osob se zdravotním postižením. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého, 2008. ISBN 978-80-244-1935-0. (Publikace zaměřená přímo na didaktiku a praktické kurzy)
  • SLOWÍK, Josef. Speciální pedagogika. 2. aktualizované vydání. Praha: Grada, 2016. ISBN 978 80 271 0095 8
  • VALENTA, Milan a Jan MICHALÍK. Mentální postižení v pedagogickém, psychologickém a sociálně-právním kontext. Grada. Praha, 2012. ISBN 978-80-247-3829-1.
    recommended literature
  • LECHTA, Viktor. Inkluzivní pedagogika. Praha: Portál, 2016. ISBN 978-80-262-1123-5.
  • MICHALÍK, Jan a kolektiv. Osoby se zdravotním postižením - speciálně pedagogické aspekty komunikace. Ústí nad Labem: EdA, 2012. SBN 978-80-904927-6-9.
  • MICHALÍK, J. Zdravotní postižení a pomáhající profese. Praha: Portál, 2011. ISBN 978-80-7367-859-3. info
  • POTMĚŠILOVÁ, P. et al. Speciální pedagogika nejen pro sociální pedagogy. Praha: Parta, 2013. ISBN 978-80-7320-179-1. info
  • RAY, Eileen Berlin. Case studies in communication and disenfranchisement: Applications to social health issues. Routledge, 2013. ISBN 0-8058-1675-5.
  • VITÁSKOVÁ, Kateřina a kolektiv. Vybrané odchylky a narušení komunikační schopnosti se zaměřením na specifika logopedické a surdopedické diagnostiky a intervence. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2015. ISBN 978-80-244-4908-1.
  • BARTOŇOVÁ, Miroslava; HÁDKOVÁ, Kateřina; KVĚTOŇOVÁ, Lea. Intervence a edukace dětí s těžkým a souběžným postižením více vadami v raném a předškolním věku a mezioborovém kontextu. Praha: PedF UK, 2024. ISBN 978-80-7603-440-2.
  • ODSTRČILÍKOVÁ, Yveta. Komunikační strategie v inkluzivním vzdělávání. In Communication strategies in inclusive education. SU Opava, 2023, 96 pp. info
  • ODSTRČILÍKOVÁ, Yveta. Komunikační systémy osob se sluchovým postižením: Distanční studijní text. 1st ed. 2019, 120 pp. info
    not specified
  • CAWTHON, Stephanie W. Disability Is Human. 2025. Dostupné z: https://bookauthority.org/... [bookauthority.org]
Teaching methods
active learning 
Assessment methods

To successfully complete the course, students must fulfill three fundamental assessment pillars. These requirements are designed to test not only your theoretical knowledge but, above all, your practical readiness for working with clients.

  1. Completion of correspondence assignments as specified by the instructor.

  2. Final oral examination.

  3. Ability to lead a discussion on a topic assigned by the instructor.

Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Teacher's information

During the semester, a 10‑hour tutorial will take place, which includes explanations of the difficult parts of the curriculum. During continuous study, the student uses the study support materials, which can be discussed during individual and group consultations (the study support materials are available in the course resources).

In the examination, the student will demonstrate knowledge of the required literature, the study support materials, and the lectures from contact teaching.

The student may continuously consult individually studied course topics via email or through individual or group consultations. Consultation days and hours are set by the instructor at the beginning of the semester, but depending on students’ needs, the instructor is also available outside the set consultation times upon prior agreement.

The course is also listed under the following terms Summer 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fvp/summer2026/VS24VK028