It's Doctor Time! PwID: book your yearly health check

Yearly health checks are proven to lead to better health outcomes for people with intellectual disability (PwID). At a yearly health check the doctor (general practitioner/GP) checks everything from blood pressure to hearing and medications.

People who aren’t getting a yearly health check may get sick. In fact, people with intellectual disability are twice as likely to end up in hospital.

Inclusion Australia (DDWA is a member of this National organisation that supports people with intellectual disability) has worked closely with people with intellectual disability, their families and support people, GPs, allied health professionals and Disability Service Providers to create “It’s Doctor Time!”

These people say:

Words like ‘Annual Health Assessment’ are confusing
Remembering to go to the GP can be hard
Going to the GP can make you feel sad or worried.

It’s suggested that it’s best if you make an appointment with your usual doctor because s/he is the one who will know your medical history best.

Another tip is:

do as much preparation beforehand so the doctor can be more thorough in his assessment i.e. take along records of any tests, medications etc.

That’s why we’ve created It’s Doctor Time! You pick a time of year you like best – that might be around your birthday or footy finals – then, you make that time “Doctor Time!”

Then, you put a reminder in your phone or on your calendar for the same time next year when It’s Doctor Time! again. And do it every year.

Inclusion Australia has lots of information about annual health checks (also called “assessments”) on their webpage.

Make Doctor Visits Easier with Conversation Cards

We know that talking to your doctor can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why Inclusion Australia has created the “It’s Doctor Time! Conversation Cards” – a fun and simple tool to help make your doctor visits smoother. The boxed set includes three types of cards:

Questions – To ask your doctor
Scenarios – To practice and prepare for your visit
True or False – To help you understand what happens during a health check

These cards are designed to start important conversations about health, so you feel more confident and informed when you visit your GP.

If you are a person with intellectual disability or a family member, you can request ONE free set of cards per person or family (while stocks last).

Find out more and order your set here: It’s Doctor Time! Conversation Cards.

Or email Inclusion Australia to order your box: admin@inclusionaustralia.org.au.

Below are links to two videos explaining “It’s Doctor Time” and the importance of Yearly Health Checks:

It’s Doctor Time! introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3BPUijRb9A
What happens at a Yearly Health Check https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZfXwKAb7hE

Where can I learn more?

… about yearly health checks for people with intellectual disability (or if you’re a family member, supporter, service provider or GP)

If you are a person with intellectual disability:

Watch a short It’s Doctor Time! Video
Listen to this song
Read the Easy Read fact sheet: W hat is It’s Doctor Time!
Read the Easy Read CHAP guide – coming soon in 2024
Fill in Part 1 of the CHAP tool. You can ask a family member or a support person to help
Make an appointment with your GP

Find out more about It’s Doctor Time! at inclusionaustralia.org.au/health-checks

Make Doctor Visits Easier with Conversation Cards

Below are links to two videos explaining “It’s Doctor Time” and the importance of Yearly Health Checks:

Where can I learn more?

… about yearly health checks for people with intellectual disability (or if you’re a family member, supporter, service provider or GP)

If you are a person with intellectual disability:

If you are a family member or supporter:

If you are a service provider or from a disability organisation:

If you are a GP or GP clinic: