Developmental Services Worker
Program Overview
Humber’s Developmental Services Worker (DSW) diploma program teaches you skills to effectively promote the physical, mental and emotional health of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Our faculty team consists of developmental services professionals who are active in the field, and our small class sizes allow for individualized attention. Our curriculum is designed with input from developmental services field experts, ensuring courses are current and relevant.
Your studies begin with an introduction to the developmental services sector and an overview of the types of developmental disabilities and the range of available community support services for this population. Next, you will learn about positive behaviour supports and intervention techniques, person-centered planning, dual diagnosis, health and wellness, basic pharmacology, supporting people with autism and other complex needs, sign languageand augmentative forms of communication, and effective responses to people who have experienced abuse. Finally, you will develop skills in building interpersonal relationships and problem solving.
You will also build your expertise in our counselling labs which provide an ideal setting to develop competencies for working with individuals with limited verbal skills.
New Advanced Standing Pathway
Already have a diploma or a degree? Complete the Developmental Services Worker diploma in three semesters. Apply to Semester 2 at ontariocolleges.ca. View the pathway and course curriculum for Advanced Standing in Explore Pathways >
The Developmental Services Worker program is also offered part time.
Curriculum
Quick-Look Availability Scheduler
Use the Quick-Look Availability Scheduler to see available courses in a calendar view and plan towards achieving your certificate.
| Compulsory | 2023/2024 Academic Year | 2024/2025 Academic Year | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empty row | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar |
| DSW 111: Intervention Techniques 1 | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 112: Introduction to Developmental Disabilities 1 | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 113: Community Orientation | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 140: Interpersonal Communication | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 153: Educational Strategies | |||||||||||||||
| GNED 101: An Introduction to Arts and Sciences | |||||||||||||||
| PSYC 210: Psychology: Developmental | |||||||||||||||
| WRIT 100: College Reading and Writing Skills | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 150: Field Experience and Seminar 1 | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 152: Person-Centred Planning | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 154: Responding to Abuse | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 157: Health and Wellness 1 | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 158: Introduction to Developmental Disabilities 2 | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 159: Abnormal Psychology/Dual Diagnosis | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 163: Professionalism in Developmental Services | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 201: Human Sexuality | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 217: Autism and Other Complex Needs | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 218: Sign Language and Augmentative Communication | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 219: Community Building | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 220: Basic Pharmacology 1 | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 221: Intervention Techniques 2 | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 224: Interpersonal Relationships and Problem Solving | |||||||||||||||
| WRIT 200: Workplace Writing Skills | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 250: Field Experience - Developmental Service Worker | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 251: Health and Wellness 2 | |||||||||||||||
| DSW 253: Basic Pharmacology 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Take 1 of the following electives | 2023/2024 Academic Year | 2024/2025 Academic Year | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empty row | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar |
| ANTH 202: Physical Anthropology | |||||||||||||||
| ANTH 205: Cultural Anthropology | |||||||||||||||
| ARTS 138: Understanding Movies: An Introduction to Film Studies | |||||||||||||||
| ARTS 229: Musical Pioneers | |||||||||||||||
| ARTS 246: Art and Artists: Money, Madness and Masterpieces | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 120: Indigenous Perspectives on Music, Film and Media | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 206: Canadian Society and Culture | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 211: Conspiracy Theories and Critical Thinking | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 220: News: Constructed and Consumed | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 228: Popular Culture: Shaping How We Live | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 229: Understanding Diversity: The World in Canada | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 239: Digital Culture | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 242: Culture, Technology and Identity | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 243: Crossing Borders: Migration and Culture | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 245: The Body: Beauty, Sex and Consumerism | |||||||||||||||
| CULT 248: Women and Popular Culture | |||||||||||||||
| ECON 150: Real Life Economics | |||||||||||||||
| ECON 204: People, Money and Markets | |||||||||||||||
| ECON 206: The History of Money | |||||||||||||||
| ENGL 239: Dark Days Ahead | |||||||||||||||
| GEOG 212: Political Geography | |||||||||||||||
| HIST 217: History of War | |||||||||||||||
| HIST 240: Law and Society | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 137: Art Matters: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 226: The Arts and the 21st Century Imagination: Longing for Paradise | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 230: Women and Religious Traditions | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 235: World Religions: Western and Eastern Traditions | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 240: Rethinking Animals | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 242: Vampires in Film and Literature | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 245: The Islamic World: An Introduction | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 250: God, Science and Religion | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 255: Death and the Afterlife: Global Perspectives | |||||||||||||||
| HUMA 260: The World of Myths and Legends | |||||||||||||||
| IKN 100: Original People: Culture, Knowledge and Worldview | |||||||||||||||
| IKN 101: Indigenous Cultural Values: Behaviour and Identity | |||||||||||||||
| IKN 200: Indigenous Family and Community | |||||||||||||||
| IKN 201: Encounter, Change, Resistance and Renewal | |||||||||||||||
| MILE 210: Italy: Art and Architecture | |||||||||||||||
| MILE 215: Great Cities: USA | |||||||||||||||
| MILE 220: Vietnam Study Abroad: Hanoi & Danang | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 120: Philosophy: A History of Ideas | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 150: The Love of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 217: Ethical Issues | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 222: Justice: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Law | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 225: Philosophy of Love and Sex | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 226: World Philosophy | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 227: Business Ethics | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 228: Success: Philosophical Perspectives | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 229: Violence, Order and Justice: An Introduction to Political Philosophy | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 230: Environmental Ethics | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 235: Technology, Values, and Science | |||||||||||||||
| PHIL 250: Science Fiction and Philosophy | |||||||||||||||
| POLS 150: Introduction to Politics | |||||||||||||||
| POLS 206: Morality, Democracy and Politics | |||||||||||||||
| POLS 219: Globalization | |||||||||||||||
| POLS 220: Politics in an Apocalyptic World: Zombies, Aliens, and Killer Viruses | |||||||||||||||
| POLS 223: War and Terrorism | |||||||||||||||
| POLS 224: Justice, Equality and Rights | |||||||||||||||
| POLS 225: Environmental Policy and Economics | |||||||||||||||
| PSYC 110: Groups, Teams and Their Dynamics | |||||||||||||||
| PSYC 150: Psychology: Introduction | |||||||||||||||
| PSYC 210: Psychology: Developmental | |||||||||||||||
| PSYC 224: Psychology: Social | |||||||||||||||
| PSYC 230: Psychology: Abnormal | |||||||||||||||
| PSYC 245: Personality and its Assessment: Who am I? (And how do I know?) | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 150: The Science of Everything | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 209: Water: A Life or Death Issue | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 213: Astronomy: The Evolving Universe | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 216: Origins of Life | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 218: Science Behind the Headlines | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 219: Dangerous Earth | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 221: The Environment | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 222: Big History: A Biography of the Universe | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 223: Astrobiology: Life in the Universe | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 224: Discovering Dinosaurs | |||||||||||||||
| SCIE 250: The Science of Superheroes | |||||||||||||||
| SOCE 006: Canadian Society and Culture | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 150: Sociology: Introduction | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 207: Social Entrepreneurship: Profit, People and the Planet | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 211: Sociology of the Everyday Life | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 218: Population and Social Change | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 219: Sport and Society | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 226: Health and Society | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 227: Environmental Citizenship | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 232: Gender, Power and Society | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 233: Sociology of Cultural Difference | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 234: Society and Conflict | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 236: Issues in Crime | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 237: The Sociology of Fashion | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 238: Sociology of Food | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 239: Citizenship, Immigration and Democracy | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 240: Sociology of the Family | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 246: Sociology of Emotions | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 247: Leadership | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 249: Imagining the City | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 257: Canada Today | |||||||||||||||
| SOCI 277: Sexual Diversity: Contemporary Social Issues | |||||||||||||||
Compulsory Courses
1 of the following electives
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:
- Conduct oneself in an ethical, competent and accountable manner in all professional relationships.
- Provide person-directed supports and services that respect and promote self-determination for people with developmental disabilities.
- Provide for the safety of people with developmental disabilities, self and others in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations and standards of practice.
- Support health and well-being of people with developmental disabilities.
- Employ and adapt formal and informal strategies to support the learning of people with developmental disabilities.
- Provide leadership in the development of inclusive communities.
- Develop professional and personal plans that enhance job performance and well-being.
Work Placement
Our program offers a rich diversity of innovative and traditional opportunities to connect with the field. You will complete 600 hours of experience in the developmental services sector with established community partners over the duration of the program.
Students will engage in the first 200 hours of work-integrated learning two days per week, over 14 weeks in Semester 2. In Semester 4, students will engage in 400 hours of work-integrated learning, four days per week for 14 weeks. Opportunities are arranged with the help of a dedicated field placement co-ordinator and are typically unpaid. As part of work-integrated learning, students will attend seminar classes and complete coursework.
Advisory Committee
This program’s advisory committee is comprised of people with extensive experience in the developmental services work profession, representing a variety of settings where developmental services workers are employed. Many are also members of the Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities (OADD).
Community Partnerships
Some of our community partners include:
- Addus
- Brampton Caledon Community Living
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Community Living
- Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board
- Peel and Halton Acquired Brain Injury Services
Your Career
A career as a developmental services worker will allow you to help people with disabilities live, work and participate in their communities. You will use your skills to support people with intellectual disabilities, autism, physical challenges or other needs.
You can find work assisting people in a variety of roles including:
- classroom assistant in a daycare centre
- community support worker
- educational/teaching assistant in a school
- family support worker
- residential support worker
- seniors support worker
Professional Accreditations & Recognition
Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities (OADD)
Graduates may apply to become members of the Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities (OADD) and its Developmental Services Special Interest Group (DSSIG).
Additional requirements may apply.
Note: The requirements for the additional credential(s) are determined by the granting body, which is independent from the College. Students are encouraged to obtain the specific requirements directly from the granting body before enrolling.
Program Availability
Social & Community - Human Services
Watch the video to hear what our graduates have to say about the Developmental Services Worker program and how the program prepared them for a rewarding career in the Human Services sector.
Humber Students Benefit from Five Centres of Innovation (COIs)
The Humber Centres of Innovation Network demonstrates our strong commitment to providing an experiential learning environment for students. Students and faculty work with industry partners on real-world challenges to prepare them to become the innovative and strategic problem-solvers of tomorrow. Come to Humber and experience interdisciplinary learning across five COIs.
About the COIsNews Feed
Experience Humber
Program Highlights
Thu, November 03, 2022
On Saturday, June 4, 2022, we excitedly welcomed students back to the Lakeshore Campus for our Experience Humber Event.
Ontario College Fair 2022
Program Highlights
Thu, November 03, 2022
Humber College had a strong presence in the 2022 Ontario College Fair, which took place October 19th and October 20th
No news at this time.
Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable or campus location at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.
On October 21, 2019, the Provincial Government of Ontario announced the renaming of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU). Both names may appear on this website.
