AACPDM 69th Annual Conference October 22nd in Austin, Texas: Dr. Katharine Hayward's Presentation

TRANSFORMING THE HEALTHCARE OF WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES

Presenters: James A. Blackman, MD, MPH; David P. Roye, MD; Katharine Hayward, PhD, MPH; Laurie Glader, FAAP, MD; Deborah GaeblerSpira, MD; Judy Panko Reis, BA, MA, MS; Beth Rackow, MD.

Purpose: This course will present best practices and preliminary data collected on health disparities encountered by women with disabilities when accessing obstetrical, gynecological and breast care. This course will increase the knowledge of attendees on these topics and inform them of methods that can be used to enhance care for women with disabilities.

Target Audience:Healthcare providers involved with the care of adolescents and women with cerebral palsy (CP) and similar physical disabilities.

Course Summary: This preliminary data is from a two year multi-site project designed to improve healthcare for women with disabilities. This course will present the results of base-line surveys distributed to women with disabilities to better understand their needs. Disparities and best practices will be discussed on gynecological care, reproductive life planning, adolescent health and transition and mammography techniques as they relate to women with disabilities. The panel will include speakers who are medical and public health professionals affiliated with each project site focused on one of the domains of healthcare indicated. The data and best practices will lay the framework for the implementation of various interventions to improve care for women with disabilities. This course will also examine the initial implications for modifying clinical care for patients. The project is funded by the Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation (CPIRF).

Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the best practices and barriers to care that women with cerebral palsy (CP) encounter when accessing gynecological care 2. Describe the best practices of reproductive life planning and pregnancy as they pertain to women with CP 3. Employ knowledge of best practices and adolescent health and transition with regard to females with CP 4. List the best practices and barriers in mammography for women with CP.