Women’s Health

AAHD invites women with disabilities to take a survey on breast health screening accessibility.

Susan G. Komen Foundation Partnership

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) has had a longstanding partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The collaboration began in 2007 when AAHD was a recipient of a grant entitled, “Increasing Breast Cancer Screening for Women with Disabilities in Montgomery County, MD by Improving Access, Education and Training at Mammography Sites”.

Expanding breast cancer outreach

2007

Since 2007, AAHD has received five additional grants to continue education and outreach for women with disabilities about their breast health.

The purpose of the 2007 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.

2009-2010

In 2009 and 2010, AAHD expanded their breast cancer outreach to reach women with disabilities in additional MD and VA communities. In 2011 and 2012, AAHD 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.

2012

AAHD and Susan G. Komen expanded AAHD’s local community work to a national scope in 2012 and launched “Project Accessibility USA; Removing Barriers for Women with Disabilities”. This two year project 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.

2016-2018

2016-2018 brought AAHD work back to Washington DC, Wards 2, 5, 7 & 8 where :”Breast Cancer Awareness for Women With Disabilities: Lightning Can Strike Twice” was launched. 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 entitled, “Empowerment Exchange”. The goal of this podcast was to provide helpful information on breast health that is easily accessible for people with disabilities. Listen to this conversation…

Currently, AAHD is continuing the work of “Breast Cancer Awareness for Women with Disabilities: Lightening Can Strike Twice” and has added a coaching component to the Educational Workshops. This project is primarily focused on Wards 2,5, 7, & 8.

We encourage the use of the materials and resources that have been developed to educate healthcare providers about the barriers and challenges women with disabilities face when seeking breast health services, as well as the materials and resources that have been developed to empower women with disabilities to better understand the importance of screening, risk factors, and the continuum of care.