DARE Disability Support and Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District are working together to create solutions to improve communication in hospitals for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
DID YOU KNOW?
Almost 60% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have severe communication limitations. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities may not understand the admission, treatment or discharge process when requiring health treatment.
PARTICIPANTS HAVE TOLD US
Data from initial surveys, interviews and working groups told us…
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities appreciate healthcare workers when they talk directly to them and adapt their communication so that they can better understand things being discussed.
Carers and support workers want to assist healthcare workers to communicate and understand people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through accurate handover of information.
Hospital staff agreed that a good handover knowledge about the person’s preferred communication methods and taking time to listen are all very important, and training is needed.
SOLUTIONS TO PUT INTO ACTION!
Working group participants shared their ideas on solutions to improve communication in hospitals. All ideas were rated and prioritised. The project is excited to share the top rated solutions that will now be put into action!
USE PICTURES AND
COMMUNICATION TOOLS
Easy read resources and tools to assist with communication and to explain procedures and things that are going to happen.
HANDOVER
OF INFORMATION
Essential information that a hospital needs from a patient, in an easily accessible and streamlined format.
SIX MINUTE INTENSIVE
TRAINING (SMIT)
Short, sharp training for hospital staff on topics such as ways to communicate and disability awareness.
The team would like to thank all participants for their contribution and support of the My Health My Communication project.
Your contributions have allowed the project to gather essential data to identify the key issues and possible solutions.
The project will soon be inviting people to join upcoming working groups to help work out what these solutions will actually look like.
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