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NIRS Project

Integration of Wellness and Disability Education in Undergraduate Health Professions Curricula

Contact Information:

Olga Zvadska
[email protected]
732-322-1458

Project Description:

The number of persons in the US living with a disability continues to increase. As medical technology advances and the baby-boomer population continues to age, this number is expected to grow even more. Even so, the medical community continues to inappropriately meet the health and wellness needs of persons with disability. These individuals continue to face attitudinal and structural barriers to accessing quality healthcare services. The Surgeon GeneralÂs Call to Action: Advocating for the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities has suggested that a gap in health professionalsÂ knowledge may be to blame. Research is still limited, however, on evidence-based inclusion of disability-related health promotion content in undergraduate health professions education. The authors developed a two-hour course module using current literature on health and disability and the Surgeon GeneralÂs Call to Action report. The purpose of the course is to increase the capacity of future healthcare professionals to deliver culturally sensitive and quality healthcare services to children, adolescents, and adults with disability and to promote their holistic health and wellness. The authorsÂ goal was to encourage students to question their personal biases and attitudes towards persons with disability and to increase studentsÂ knowledge and skills in promoting health and wellness for persons with disability. The course was co-taught by persons with a disability and a person without a disability and approximately 79 students attended the two lectures.

Core Function(s):

Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Developing & Disseminating Information

Area of Emphasis

Health-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology, Other - Cultural Diversity

Target Audience:

Community Trainees / Short term trainees

Unserved or Under-served Populations:

None

Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:

Not Applicable

Funding Source:

Federal