Professional courses - A student perspective

Emma Clarke

Trinity College Dublin 2nd Annual Disability Service Symposium

University Background

• 2003 – Dental Science in TCD – Dropped out

• 2004 – Physiotherapy in TCD – Qualified

• 2009 – Returned to Dental Science as a Mature Student.

• Currently – about to commence final year

Transition 2nd – 3rd

Level• Applied via the DARE scheme • Supports in place – Note takers, FM

system• “The First Day” Story• Did not see myself as having a

Disability • Did not want to be singled out or made

feel different from rest of the class.• Decided the course was too hard –

dropped out.

Physiotherapy

• New course / new start• Another health science course • Still the challenges of placements

& dealing with the public.• Lectures – accepted the supports.

Placements

• Physiotherapy - Completed 1000 hours clinical practice in the four years – over five different sites.

• First placement – AMNCH – Elective Orthopaedics

• Wards – Noise • Introducing myself to patients • Communication with patients –

should I inform patients?• Communication with team

members – would I slow procedures down?

• Not wanting to burden senior• Use of supports on placement• Starting in a new site – repeating

the process.

Pre Placements- Prep

Dental Science

(Take 2!) • Learned from previous placements• Communication – non issue• New skill set required • Disclosure – second nature –

reciting of medical history• New challenges – dental mask, new

supervisors, nursing staff• Routine in the Dental Hospital

Advice to practice co-

ordinators• Case by case • No recipe approach • Ensuring free channel of

communication• Encourage to disclose when necessary • Pre placement advice essential • The advantage of staying between the

two main sites for core placements • Re-checking