Inequity to Equity
Promoting Health and Wellness of Women with Disabilities
The American Psychological Association, joined by Howard University Women’s Health Institute, and Gallaudet University hosted a two-day interactive, interdisciplinary conference, “Inequity to Equity: Promoting Health and Wellness of Women with Disabilities” at the Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC on October 17 - 18, 2011. By promoting the exchange of knowledge and information among psychologists, other health care providers, researchers, educators, policymakers, women with disabilities and advocates, the conference fostered an integrated health care agenda that aims to improve health outcomes for women with disabilities.
Dr. Suzanne Bennett Johnson, the 2011 APA President-elect, opened the Inequity to Equity Conference with a welcome from the APA and framed the conference goals and objectives. Dr. Isaac Agboola, Dean of the Gallaudet University College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Technologies, and Dr. Celia J. Maxwell, Assistant Vice President for Health Sciences, and Director, Howard University College of Medicine Women’s Health Institute, also brought greetings from their respective institutions.
Thought-provoking symposia, speakers and more
The Inequity to Equity Conference included a full schedule of thought-provoking symposia, platform presentations and posters that launched the process of drafting an agenda that could guide our work over the next five years. Approximately 150 conference attendees, psychologists, other health care providers, researchers, educators, policymakers, women and girls with disabilities, and advocates, engaged in vigorous dialogue aimed at developing an integrated health care agenda that will improve health outcomes for women with disabilities.
In addition to the paper sessions, the conference featured invited addresses given by: The Honorable Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy who spoke on the joys of work and its importance to one’s health; Dr. Marsha Saxton, faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, Disability Studies Program and the World Institute on Disability, shared her perspective on translating research on women with disabilities into practice; and Dr. Linda R. Mona, Director of Training for the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, who presented on the intersections of disability, femininity, and parenting. Margaret A. Nosek, PhD, founder and Executive Director of the Center for Research on Women with Disabilities at Baylor College of Medicine and Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was unable to join us because of a sudden illness. We hope to bring her remarks to conference attendees in the near future.
Moving forward, the Inequity to Equity Conference Planning Committee will distill the ideas generated during the conference to produce concrete recommendations on improving how individuals who deliver and facilitate the delivery of health care services (both physical and mental health) to women with disabilities respond appropriately and effectively. Please check back for updates on the research agenda and other project developments.
If you have questions or require additional information, please contact:
Ms. Kari Hill
American Psychological Association
Public Interest Directorate
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Telephone: (202) 336 - 6044 | Fax: (202) 336 - 6117
TTY: (202) 336 - 5662
Funding for this activity was made possible in part by the HHS, Office on Women's Health. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators at HHS-sponsored conferences, do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
The American Psychological Association, the Howard University Women’s Health Institute, and Gallaudet University convened an interactive, interdisciplinary conference on women with disabilities and health. The conference was held in Washington, DC, on October 17–18, 2011, at the Kellogg Conference Hotel on the campus of Gallaudet University.
The Inequity to Equity conference was designed to promote the exchange of knowledge and information among psychologists, other health care providers, researchers, educators, policymakers, women with disabilities, and advocates, and aimed to foster an integrated health care agenda that will improve health outcomes for women with disabilities.
Rationale
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, approximately 26 million women in the United States have disabilities, and more than 50% of women older than 65 report living with a disability. These numbers are expected to increase. In the general population, women have a higher rate of disability than men. In addition, women have higher disability rates than men in all of the major ethnic and racial groups except among Native Americans. These differences are partly due to women’s higher average longevity. However, disparities in health care among women with disabilities have also been amply documented as accounting for these differences. According to the Center for Research on Women With Disabilities, disabled women are significantly more likely than women without disabilities to have limited access to health care, increased prevalence of secondary complications, and diminished quality of life. In addition, women with disabilities are less likely to receive screenings for conditions common to all women. Attitudes and prejudices are often major barriers when women with disabilities try to access care and services.
Our current health care delivery system is inadequately responsive to the needs of women with disabilities, and traditional training for the health professions fails to provide the knowledge and skills clinicians need to provide optimal care to women with disabilities. Women with disabilities sometimes lack the knowledge and strategies they need to promote their optimal health and demand quality health care. In 2004, the Department of Health and Human Services sponsored a summit meeting titled “Breaking Down the Barriers to Health Care for Women With Disabilities.” At this meeting, education was declared to be a critical next step toward improving care for this diverse, underserved population.
Goals
To promote and exchange knowledge and information among psychologists and other health care providers to develop best practices that will improve and/or increase positive health care outcomes for women with disabilities.
To promote empowerment of women with disabilities to take charge of and advocate for their own health and health care.
To develop relationships and cooperation among organizations and professionals concerned with health issues related to women with disabilities.
To identify gaps in research and formulate recommendations for future research, practice, education, and policy to positively influence the lives of women with disabilities.
To strengthen the capacity of psychological and health services professionals to provide informed and appropriate health care to women with disabilities.
CE Credit General Information
This program has been reviewed and approved by the APA Office of Continuing Education in Psychology, which maintains responsibility for the content of the program.
