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Abstract #162249

Kathryn Leigh Compton Barr, BA¹, Yuli Chang, BA¹, Juliana P. Hammer, BA¹, Rachel Kuliani, BA¹, Katherine Irene Nelson, BS¹, Ciara Zachary, BA¹, Adonis T. Brown², Rene Cummins, MA³, and Eugenia Eng, MPH, DrPH⁴. (1) School of Public Health: Health Behavior and Health Education, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Public Health: Health Behavior and Health Education, Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, (919) 966-3919, katebarr@email.unc.edu, (2) EnVisioned: Independent Living International, 401 Archdale Dr, Apt 402, Durham, NC 27707, (3) Alliance of Disability Advocates, PO Box 12988, Raleigh, NC 27605, (4) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, School of Public Health CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Background/Purpose: Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) allows researchers to identify strengths and challenges within a community from the perspective of community members. Many people will have a disability in their lifetime, making it imperative to understand the assets and needs of this community. The purpose of this project is to explain how Action Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) was applied to the persons with disabilities (PWDs) community in Durham, NC and to share information gathered from this process. Methods: This AOCD was conducted in collaboration with PWDs in Durham City, NC over eight months. Data were collected from interviews, focus groups, secondary data sources and study team observations on the strengths, challenges, and needs of this community. Data were analyzed using qualitative methods of coding text to identify patterns in field observations and participant responses to interview questions. Results/Implications: A preliminary analysis of interviews conducted with service providers and community members revealed four predominant themes for PWDs: transportation, housing, employment, and community support. The purpose of applying AOCD in this community is to provide a context in which involved parties can develop a partnership for addressing issues of concern and identify action steps to initiate changes in the present community. We suggest the CBPR process begins with an AOCD that includes identifying themes of focus which are considered of high importance and high changeability. The process should end with a community forum to empower community members to achieve the action steps.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply community based participatory research methods to persons with disabilities.
• Identify assets and barriers for persons with disabilities.
• Discuss the feasibility of applying community based participatory research methods to persons with disabilities.

Keywords: Community Participation,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No