Project description

Death is a part of life. Too often death is a taboo in our society, and people avoid talking about or planning for it. This taboo is even more obvious when people with intellectual disability are part of these conversations. People with intellectual disability should learn about dying and death just as they learn about every other aspect of life. Teaching about the end of life is hard though.

Talking End of Life ...with people with intellectual disability (TEL) shows you how to teach people with intellectual disability about the end of life.

Learning options

The 12 modules are designed around a suite of 3 topics:

  1. How do I do this? Any or all of these 5 modules will help if you're unsure about your role, how to teach about the end of life, or how to manage cultural beliefs or feelings.
    1. Why is this important?
    2. Cultural beliefs
    3. Managing feelings
    4. Your role as a DSP
    5. Handy teaching skills
  2. Teaching how to understand end of life: Any or all of these 3 modules will help you to teach about dying, death, and loss, grief, and mourning.
    1. Dying
    2. Death
    3. Loss, grief, and mourning
  3. Teaching the planning options: Any or all of these 4 modules will help if you want to teach about how to plan for dying and death.
    1. Bequeathing
    2. Funeral wishes
    3. Care when dying
    4. Organ and tissue donation

Facilitator guides are available for each topic.

Target audience

TEL is a resource that shows you how to teach people with intellectual disability about end of life. It is designed for disability support professionals (DSPs) but is also helpful for families, health professionals, and educators. With assistance, people with intellectual disability might also find the TEL information helpful.

Funder

Australian Department of Health and Aged Care

Cost for participant

Nil

Registration required

No

For further information

E-mail: tel@westernsydney.edu.au

TEL website

Last updated 06 December 2023

Expected outcomes

Death is a part of life. Too often death is a taboo in our society, and people avoid talking about or planning for it. This taboo is even more obvious when people with intellectual disability are part of these conversations. People with intellectual disability should learn about dying and death just as they learn about every other aspect of life. Teaching about the end of life is hard though.

Talking End of Life ...with people with intellectual disability (TEL) shows you how to teach people with intellectual disability about the end of life.

TEL Learning Modules

The 12 modules are designed around a suite of 3 topics:

  1. How do I do this? Any or all of these 5 modules will help if you're unsure about your role, how to teach about the end of life, or how to manage cultural beliefs or feelings.
    1. Why is this important
    2. Cultural beliefs
    3. Managing feelings
    4. Your role as a DSP
    5. Handy teaching skills

  2. Teaching how to understand end of life: Any or all of these 3 modules will help you to teach about dying, death, and loss, grief and mourning.
    1. Dying
    2. Death
    3. Loss, grief and mourning

  3. Teaching the planning options: Any or all of these 4 modules will help if you want to teach about how to plan for dying and death.
    1. Bequeathing
    2. Funeral wishes
    3. Care when dying
    4. Organ and tissue donation

Target audience

TEL is a resource that shows you how to teach people with intellectual disability about end of life. It is designed for disability support professionals (DSPs) but is also helpful for families, health professionals, and educators. With assistance, people with intellectual disability might also find the TEL information helpful.

For further information:

email: tel@westernsydney.edu.au

Website link
https://www.caresearch.com.au/tel/