Physical Disabilities

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.

This course explores the unique experiences, needs, and challenges faced by Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing communities in accessing medical healthcare. Participants will learn about deafness and Deaf culture to identify barriers to care, understand health disparities, and apply standards of care to ensure equitable health outcomes. This course emphasizes the importance of taking a linguistically and culturally responsive approach in clinical practice, guiding participants in developing personalized action plans to better serve deaf and hard of hearing patients. Through research-based text, vicarious observation, and practical exercises, learners will gain the knowledge and skills to improve healthcare equity and outcomes for these communities.

This course delves into the unique experiences, needs, and challenges encountered by Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing communities in accessing medical healthcare. Participants will gain insights into deafness and Deaf culture, enabling them to identify barriers to care, understand health disparities, and implement standards of care to promote equitable health outcomes. Emphasizing the significance of a linguistically and culturally responsive approach in clinical practice, the course guides participants in developing tailored action plans to better serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients. Through a combination of research-based readings, observational learning, and practical exercises, learners will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to enhance healthcare equity and outcomes for these communities.