Teaching health care students about disability within a cultural competency context

• Published in: Disability and health journal 2013-10, Vol.6 (4), p.271-279
• Main Authors: Robey, Kenneth L., Ph.D, Minihan, Paula M., Ph.D., M.P.H, Long-Bellil, Linda M., Ph.D., J.D, Hahn, Joan Earle, Ph.D., A.P.R.N.-B.C, Reiss, John G., Ph.D, Eddey, Gary E., M.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Competencies; Cultural competence; Cultural Competency; Curriculum; Delivery of Health Care; Disability; Disabled Persons; Health Occupations - education; Humans; Internal Medicine; Students; Training
• ISSN: 1936-6574; 1876-7583
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2013.05.002

Abstract The training of health care providers has been identified as key to resolving the health disparities experienced by persons with disabilities. We contend that: 1) cultural competency provides a useful conceptual framework for teaching disability-related content to health professions students; 2) educational experiences can be structured to reflect the socio-cultural complexity of the ‘disability culture;’ 3) desired competencies associated with culture can be defined with regard to professionals' approach to patients with disabilities; 4) exposure to persons who have disabilities in their homes allows the student to make connections between the nuances of daily life with a disability and one's health care needs; 5) the framework allows the disability culture to be integrated with other cultural contexts, including race and ethnicity; and 6) the framework acknowledges the potential impact of providers' conscious or unconscious recognition of their potential membership in the disability culture on their approach to patients with disabilities.