Susan G. Komen Foundation Partnership

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) had a longstanding partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation from 2007 to 2018 to expand education and outreach for women with disabilities about their breast health.

AAHD began this collaboration with a pilot project in 2007 to improve access, education and training at mammography sites for women with disabilities. The purpose of this first grant was to survey women with disabilities in Montgomery County, MD about getting mammograms and promote the ability of women with disabilities to have routine mammograms. It also served to increase breast cancer screening among women with disabilities through distribution of surveys that addressed barriers in mammography facilities.

AAHD expanded our breast cancer outreach to reach women with disabilities in additional Maryland and Virginia communities from 2009-2010.  Then, we launched “Bridging the Gap: No Women Left Behind” in Washington, DC Wards 2,5,7,& 8, Prince George’s County, MD,  Arlington County, VA and Prince William County VA from 2011 to 2012.

This community pilot was expanded to a national level with the launch of “Project Accessibility USA; Removing Barriers for Women with Disabilities”. This initiative worked towards reducing breast cancer health disparities in women with disabilities by increasing awareness about challenges and barriers women with disabilities face when seeking breast health services.  As part of this project, AAHD developed a web-based Resource Learning Center and on-line educational training modules on disability culture and sensitivity for healthcare professionals to be used throughout the Susan G. Komen networks.

From 2016 to 2018, AAHD refocused our outreach to Washington DC, Wards 2, 5, 7 & 8, with an emphasis on the risks of recurrence in breast cancer. This project involved mammography facility assessments, participating in community events, and facilitating educational workshops for women with disabilities. During this period, a podcast was also initiated called “Empowerment Exchange”. It provided helpful information on breast health in an easily accessible format and language for people with disabilities.

Explore our outreach materials and resources on breast cancer screenings for women with disabilities.