The Interdependent Community
Inclusive, Integrative, Collaborative Strategies for Community Health

January 14 – April 22, 2003, Tuesday Evenings, 6-9 pm
Academic Building 3, Room 125, on the FGCU Main Campus
Course Website: www.zeang.com/robertfig/OTH4932

Course Description.    In this course we will explore the ideal of the “interdependent community.” By this we mean a community that effectively leverages all of its resources, working in harmony, to meet the diverse and changing needs of all of its members. We will conduct this exploration from the perspective of two groups whose needs communities tend to struggle especially to satisfy: adults with disabilities, and elders. We will examine the roles of intergenerational integration, inclusion, volunteerism, faith-based organizations, and inter-agency collaboration, among other attributes of communities that “take care of their own,” and thereby outline a model of interdependence that can inform community health efforts in Southwest Florida and elsewhere.

Course Facts.    This is a three credit-hour course listed under the Occupational Therapy Department of the College of Health Professions at Florida Gulf Coast University, as OTH 4932 Special Topics: Interdependent Community; Course Reference Number (CRN) 10950. There are no course prerequisites, but students should be able and willing to collaborate extensively within groups, which absolutely necessitates being computer literate and Internet connected; also, students must be willing to present and publish their work.

Costs.    In addition to Florida resident tuition of approximately $256 for this  course, first time non-degree students at FGCU will need to complete an application to the University for a fee of $20, and may be subject to other nominal fees (state employees may be eligible for tuition waivers). A parking permit is also required.

Who Should Enroll.    This course is designed to expose people interested in improving the wellbeing of elders and/or adults with disabilities to a range of innovative approaches. From affordable housing to assistive services, from social networks to transportation options, from occupational opportunities to end-of-life care, we will examine the key variables involved in enabling full meaningful lives for everyone in a community, regardless of age, income, or disability. Professional as well as volunteer service and care providers, developers and administrators of facilities and programs for elders and people with disabilities, as well as their advocates will all benefit from a rich toolset upon which to draw to become more effective agents for change.

How to Enroll.    Current students can register online via Gulfline.  For non degree seeking students, registration begins Monday, December 9, 2002. First time students must first submit an application (see http://enrollment.fgcu.edu/registration/non-deg.html). For more information, contact Peggy Raynor at the College of Health Professions, at praynor@fgcu.edu, (239) 590-7455.  View online directions and map at www.fgcu.edu/tour/vtour/directions.html)