This fall, the Center for Health Equity at Indiana University, with funding from the Indiana State Department of Health’s Division of Chronic Disease, Primary Care and Rural Health, will provide three opportunities for health professionals to attend an Optimal Health for All workshop on Disability Sensitivity and Competency in Health Settings. While these workshops will be conducted online (via Zoom), speakers and resources will be featured from the local communities: Indianapolis (October 9), South Bend (October 24), or Evansville (December 3).
One in four people in Indiana have a disability. Given the number of Hoosiers with disabilities, and the desire of making health care more accessible, it is important to understand how to best accommodate and effectively communicate with people with disabilities. The workshop will feature a panel of local residents with disabilities, Dr. Amy Sekhar, owner of Point Blue Training and Consulting, and Dr. Jae Chul Lee from the Center for Health Equity, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.
This 3-hour workshop will cover:
The current landscape for disability and health in Indiana
Common barriers experienced by people with disabilities in health care or health promotion settings
Disability awareness, sensitivity, and effective communication.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to offer these workhsops online using Zoom web conferencing. While the workshops will be online, we will feature speakers and resources from the Indianapolis, South Bend, and Evansville areas.
October 9, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET Indianapolis
October 24, 9:00 - 1 p.m. ET South Bend (IU South Bend Dental Education Program - Carol D Minichillo Lecture Series)
December 3, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. CT Evansville
The Center for Health Equity at Indiana University will offer 3.0 continuing education credits as a Catergory 1 Provider for professions licensed through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. Continuing education credits are available for Social Workers, Counselors, Dentist, Dental Hygienists, and others.
Dr. Amy Sekhar of Point Blue Training and Consulting is a sought-after speaker and trainer on diversity and inclusive practices for organizations and other community groups. She will address disability sensitivity, awareness, and effective communication, bringing in her personal experiences.
Dr. Jae Chul Lee is the Director of the Center for Health Equity at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. He has published multiple articles on health disparities for and among people with disabilities. He has also directed efforts to address such disparities at a state level, through disability data monitoring and surveillance; public health reports; and a state strategic plan. His commitment to improving health equity for people with disabilities comes from his own experience with his father’s severe traumatic brain injury.
Each workshop will feature a panel of Hoosiers with Disabilities from the local community who will share their lived experiences about the challenges and barriers to optimal health.
