Women's Health
Today's modern woman has many roles and responsibilities: caregiver, wife, mother, employee, friend, and volunteer, among others. Twenty-six million of these American women are living with disabilities that can make these roles even more challenging.
In the area of women’s health, NCODH works to promote access to breast healthcare and cancer screening for women with disabilities by 1) assisting healthcare providers and mammography technologists to provide accessible reproductive health services for women with disabilities thru training and accessibility reviews; 2) educating women with intellectual disabilities about reproductive health and breast cancer screening, using the Women Be Healthy curriculum; and 3) improving access to sexual assault and domestic violence services for women with disabilities
Access for All: Implementing Fundamental Elements of Accessibility
NCODH received a two-year grant from the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission in 2007 to help domestic violence and sexual assault agencies implement ten fundamental elements of accessibility.
Review the numerous FEA resources and educational materials to help you get started. For more information contact: Pam Dickens at the Access for All Project at 919-966-0871 or 919-843-3811 (TTY) or dickens@mail.fpg.unc.edu.
Breast Cancer Screening- Women with disabilities face the same or elevated risks for breast cancer, as women in general. Women with disabilities may experience some of the risk factors for breast cancer, such as obesity, having no children, and chest radiation, more often than women without disabilities. However, according to the National Women's Health Information Center, women with disabilities often have less access to breast health services than any other group of women. NCODH partners state and community agencies to address improving access to breast cancer screening for women with disabilities.
The Women Be Healthy Curriculum was developed to enable women with intellectual disabilities to become more active participants in their health care. Its primary emphasis is teaching women about reproductive health and breast / cervical cancer screenings. The curriculum focuses on: health education, anxiety reduction and empowerment training. NCODH provides free training to service providers to teach them how to implement the curriculum. A free kit of educational supplies is available from NCODH to borrow while teaching the 8-week class.
Health Care- Women with disabilities often experience barriers to health care services. They may lack awareness and information about preventive care and health promotion. Health care facilities and service agencies may lack access to buildings, information, or communication for some women with disabilities. Often medical equipment may be inaccessible, such as scales, exam tables, or mammography machines. Providers may lack knowledge or experience in working with women with disabilities. NCODH is working to promote access to health care by providing training and technical assistance to health care providers, those in training, and self-advocacy information to consumers. NCODH also works with providers to provide accessibility reviews.
Partnerships for Breast Health is a project funded by Susan G. Komen NC Triangle to improve access to breast health care and screening for women with disabilities in the following counties: Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Orange and Wake.
The good news is that breast cancer can be found early and treated when the chances for cure are best. The best way to find breast cancer is by having a mammogram. All women should know their family history and talk with their doctor about scheduling a mammogram.
Project Activities include
- Client reminders
- Breast health education
- Community outreach
- Assistance with out-of-pocket breast cancer screening and treatment expenses
- Assessments of mammography sites
- Directory: Finding accessible screening mammography sites in Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Orange & Wake Counties
Women with Disabilities: Get Involved
Contact Alliance of Disability Advocates for more information.
V/TTY (919) 833-1117
Project Partners:
Alliance of Disability Advocates
NC Office on Disability and Health
Current NCODH Women’s Health partnerships include
- Alliance of Disability Advocates
- Arc of NC
- Center for Women’s Health Research, UNC-CH
- Community Rehabilitation Programs
- Governor’s Crime Commission
- MS Society Eastern NC Chapter
- NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- NC Community Colleges, Compensatory Education Program
- NC Division of Public Health, Family Planning and Reproductive Health Unit
- NC Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch
- NC Radiation Protection
- Susan G. Komen for the Cure, NC Triangle Affiliate
