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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Charles E. Drum, JD, PhD, Traci Goff, BS, Willi Horner-Johnson, PhD, Brian Ritacco, MA, and Angela Weaver-Roebuck, MEd. Oregon Office on Disability and Health, Oregon Health & Science University, PO Box 574, Portland, OR 97207-0574
People with disabilities encounter numerous and complex barriers to participation in all spheres of life. The Community Engagement Initiative was developed to bring citizens together to identify community barriers, assets, and resources for action. The Community Engagement Initiative methodology consists of three co-related activities: 1) conducting community forums (i.e., town hall meetings); 2) meeting with a network of community change agents (i.e., community and business leaders, agency representatives, etc.); and 3) community resource mobilization through identified organizational strategies (task forces, coalitions, etc.). The Community Engagement Initiative was used in two Oregon communities. The methodology elucidated physical and social barriers within each community, identified material resources, and facilitated the networking of previously discrete people and agencies. Community members responded by forming grassroots organizations or participating in existing task forces, coalitions, or standing committees. This presentation will describe the methodology, highlighting the barriers and assets within the two communities, and describe steps community members have taken to address specific barriers.
Learning Objectives: At session's end, participant will be able to
Keywords: Access and Services, Community Participation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon Institute on Disability and Development.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.