Project Description:
The Center on Disability and Development (CDD) at Texas A&M University submitted an application for the Administration on Community Living's new funding opportunity to expand the public health workforce within the disability networks. The purpose of this project was to increase the health network's capacity to promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work, and play. The proposed work included a variety of services related to public health such as health and wellness education and information, counseling, case management and guidance related to health and social needs, as well as how to access those supports in the local community.
The proposed project was an additional effort to a current project that expands access to COVID-19 vaccine by people with disabilities in Texas. It intended to work with various health care partners to recruit, hire, and train public health workers to respond to the pandemic and prepare for future public health challenges. As outlined by the ACL, the CDD aimed to increase the number of public health professionals within the disability networks to address the unique needs of people with disabilities through the support of wages and benefits for these professionals. Professionals supported through this program may provide a wide range of public health services and supports, including provision of culturally affirmative and linguistically accessible information, access assistance for vaccines and boosters, transition and diversion from high-risk congregate settings to community living, provision and connections to health and wellness programs, activities that address social isolation and social determinants of health, and other activities that support the public health and wellbeing of people with disabilities.
The following activities were conducted:
1. Person-Centered Training Model and Dissemination materials Development, Brazos County Health Department Staff and School of Public Health, Texas A&M University.
A two-day training model focused on the foundation and philosophical person-centered thinking (PCT) framework was developed by UCEDD staff and PCT Mentor Trainer. The training was identified as an activity in order to support the elimination of language and communication barriers between health care professionals at the department and individuals with disabilities in the community, and to help staff in health care settings improve quality, satisfaction, and accessibility for people with disabilities.The training model was developed for the Brazos County Health Department Staff and will be conducted by Aimee, a Person-Centered Trainer from the Center for Disability and Development, Texas A&M University. The training was developed for approximately 25-30 people. PCT training materials have been created and are ready for use. Dissemination materials such as flyers and pamphlets were developed and include information on types of disabilities, barriers to access to health care for individuals with disabilities, and how to communicate with individuals with disabilities including people-first, identify-first, and plain language. Since the grant focuses on expanding the public health workforce within the disability networks through the support of wages and benefits for health care professionals, food and transportation costs will be included in the future trainings at no cost to the public healthcare workers. Now that the training model has been developed and dissemination materials created, the training implementation phase will begin in FY 2024.
2. Sensory Bags Program; collaboration with St. Joesph Hospital
A collaboration between St. Joseph's hospital, Center for Disability and Development at Texas A&M University, and the University Athletics Department and Stacey Sensory Solutions (www.staceyssensorysolultions.com) led to the development of the "Sensory Bags Program." The intended recipients of the program products developed are event attendees with sensory needs who may feel overwhelmed by the environment at sporting and local events in the community. The goal was to promote a more accessible, inclusive, and positive experience at the stadiums for guests and fans with sensory needs. Because the grant focuses on the health and social needs of individuals with disabilities as well as how they can access support in the local community, this work aligned with the ACL grant intended outcomes. The first event in which the sensory bags were disseminate was at the Reed Arena venue, which hosts sporting events and the Texas A&M university graduation ceremonies. Attendees were able to identify designated areas as checkout locations for the sensory bags, which was staffed by staff of the Center for Disability and Development, Texas A&M Events, and St. Joseph. The sensory bag materials, included: Weighted lap pads, Fidgets, Sound reducing headphones, Sensory Aware Cards, and CHI logo bags. We created 30 sensory bags and provided them fully stocked with sensory items. The Sensory Bag program has been set up at graduations at Reed Arena (both high school and TAMU), concerts, and other Reed events since December 2022. These bags are returned by the borrowers after each event. The feedback that we received was very positive and now the university plans to have the sensory bags available at additional events hosted at Reed. They have also posted the sensory bags program on the graduation sites to help advertise its availability at Reed events. The local news station filmed a new story about the Sensory Bag project and the community shared positive feedback regarding this activity.
3. Texas Partners for Inclusive Access (TPIA)
The Texas Partners for Inclusive Access is a statewide partnership of organizations initially created to helping Texans with disabilities have access to the COVID-19 vaccine and other services. The statewide and local agencies include, but not limited to: Disability Rights Texas, Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities, Texas A&M University Center on Disability and Development, and University of Texas at Austin Center for Disability Studies (including the Texas Technology Access Program), Aging, Disability And Transportation Resource Center - El Paso And Far West Texas, Amistad Serving Our Community Since 1976, Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living, Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living, Connect to Care, FEMA, House the Homeless, Inc., Providers Alliance for Community Services of Texas, Rio Grande Aging, Disability and Transportation Resource Center, State Independent Living Council (SILC), Texas Advocates, Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute, Texas Governor's Committee on People with disabilities, Texas Health and Human Services, The Arc of Texas, West Central Texas Aging and Disability Resource Center. Texas Partners for Inclusive Access is a collaboration among Texans with disabilities, state leaders, and community organizations to ensure Texas communities meet the unique needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. Texas Partners for Inclusive Access provides trustworthy information and resources so that Texans with disabilities have fewer barriers to obtain community-based services and supports. The work began with the Texas Vaccine Access Initiative in which we launched a collaborative statewide initiative to provide educational information on the COVID-19 virus and safe practices and to create more equitable access to testing and vaccines. We collaborated with local medical experts and health leaders in communities throughout our state who can answer questions about vaccinations and address concerns that individuals with disabilities, family members, and other direct caregivers may have. Partners also work in local communities across Texas to provide direct assistance to individuals with disabilities to find vaccines, get rides to appointments, arrange for drive thru clinics, or coordinate in-home vaccination options. Similarly, partners collaborate closely with vaccine clinic providers to offer guidance on needed technology, sensory, and communication accommodations. More of this work has been shared in the TPIA Project description and activities.
4. Tips for Working with People with Disabilities: A Resource for Health Care Professionals
The Public Health Project Coordinator developed the "Tips for Working with People with Disabilities: A Resource for Health Care Professionals" as a response to the identified access barriers between people with disabilities and those who support them and health care professionals. The tips can be used by individuals in the healthcare field to communicate and work with people with visible and invisible disabilities. The Resource "Tip Sheet" was developed and uploaded to the CDD's website in June 2023.
