Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114224

Allison A. Brown, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, M/C 626, 1640 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, 312-413-1588, lisab@uic.edu and Tamar Heller, PhD, RRTC on Aging with Developmental Disabilities, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608.

The growing presence and empowerment of women with disabilities mean that they are less likely to be institutionalized or restricted to specialized services, and increasingly more likely to be part of any health professionals practice. Consequently, health professionals have a new knowledge base to master. Despite promising trends, there is little research-based evidence documenting how women with I/DD understand their health needs, their health interactions, or the implications of the barriers to health services they share with their physically disabled peers. This information is critical for developing health education programs and clinical services for these women, adapting and sharing resources of both the disabled and women's health communities, and for developing comprehensive health professional training. The researcher's previous study using focus group methodology found that women with I/DD had misconceptions and limited knowledge regarding primary health issues, health service procedures and health promoting behaviors. The current study employs a qualitative case study approach to: 1) Add to the body of knowledge of health issues and experiences of women with I/DD, in relation to the perceptions of their of informal and formal health networks in which their health care is provided; 2) Further develop conceptual models of community health for women with I/DD; 3) Explore ways of connecting women with I/DD to the larger network of community resources for other women with disabilities; and 4) Further develop guidelines for appropriate, accessible health services and programs for women with I/DD. Preliminary results will be presented in light of the previous study's findings.

Learning Objectives:

• How do women with I/DD perceive their health issues and experience health services?
• What are the social and personal barriers to health services for these women, and how can access be increased?
• In what ways can women with I/DD learn more about their own health, and feel empowered to make health-related choices?

Related Web page: www.uic.edu/orgs/rrtcamr/research3.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation