Disability Competent Care | Behavioral Health

Courses within this series focus on best practices for recognizing, diagnosing, and treating mental and behavioral health needs in persons with disabilities through cultural and linguistic competence and humility.

Learning audiences include Behavioral health providers (behavioral health professionals, aides, peers, and unlicensed and licensed staff) practicing in Colorado's behavioral health system and other health providers, such as public health professionals and medical providers who also screen for psychological conditions. Further, this series is appropriate for caregivers, parents, and the general public.

To enroll in all available DCCBH courses, select this link.

Review individual courses below.

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Supporting Youth to Adulthood Transitions in People with Disabilities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in four adults in Colorado has some type of disability. The process of transition from child to adult for individuals with disabilities is complex. This course is designed to provide you with knowledge, tools, and insights to provide youth-to-adulthood transition support to people with disabilities. You will gain information and skills to navigate the complexities of long-term services and supports available to eligible youth with disabilities transitioning to adulthood.

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Breaking Down Ableism

As a group, people with disabilities fare far worse than their nondisabled counterparts across a broad range of health indicators and social determinants of health. Adults with disabilities are four times more likely than people with no disabilities to report their health to be fair or poor (40.3% vs. 9.9%). The absence of professional training on disability competency for healthcare practitioners is one of the most significant barriers preventing people with disabilities from receiving appropriate and effective health care.

This introductory course on disability is designed to provide behavioral health professionals with knowledge and skills to better understand and support individuals who have disabilities. This course covers a wide range of topics, including the many identities of people with disabilities, and the social determinants of health, ableism, and the previous models of care that have negatively impacted the well-being of the disabled community. It also highlights what disability-competent care looks like, and the importance of activism, continuous learning, and the disability justice movement.

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Individuals Experiencing Physical Disabilities

The CDC reports that 1 in 4 adults in Colorado have some type of disability and face a range of barriers when it comes to receiving adequate healthcare. This course is designed to provide you with insights, strategies, and tools (e.g., disability-competent care assessment tool) to provide disability-competent health support to people experiencing a physical disability.

This course aims to: