DDWA recognises that people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities often face barriers to accessing health services. Some of these may include:
- support to communicate how they are feeling, or what may be wrong
- availability of information in accessible formats
- support to understand the significance of symptoms
- requirements of standard diagnostic tests eg. sitting still or sensory issues
- being excluded from routine health reviews and screening
- previous traumatic experiences in health settings
- health staff being unfamiliar with characteristics of specific disability types
- health staff making judgements about what services should be provided
- health staff misattributing signs and symptoms to the disability, rather than to an unrelated health condition
DDWA Services
Advocacy - If you need support in relation to accessing health services please contact us.
Our specialist advocacy service supports:
- People with complex communication needs and little or no speech
- People with an intellectual disability or other developmental disability such as autism who may also behave in challenging ways
- Parents with an intellectual disability
Cost – This is a free service.
Resources
Coronavirus COVID-19 Information
There's no such thing as a silly question
Planning to go to the Dentist
Your Dental Health
Working Together, therapy in the early years
Supporting School-age Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Autism Parent's Handbook
Other Resources
