Cancer Screening and Treatment Disparities

Bottom Line

The project is working to improve breast and cervical cancer screening rates for Native American women with disabilities here in Arizona.

Details

I am currently working in collaboration with Dr. Julie Armin from University of Arizona, Hopi Cancer Support Services, and Tucson Indian Center on culturally adapting an existing breast and cervical cancer screening education program for Native American women with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Click here to learn more about the project overall. We recently presented our lessons learned from developing community partnerships with Indigenous partners. Click here to learn more about our partnership development which aligns with the Indigenous research framework. We have completed 48 interviews with Native American women with disabilities, their caregivers, and providers. Results of these interviews are being analyzed to develop a revised culturally relevant curriculum which will be pilot tested in the next year.

We are also evaluating cancer survivorship services for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Click here to learn more. This evaluation has been accepted for publication and will be officially released in 2021.

Samtani, G, Bassford, T.L., Williamson, H.J., & Armin, J.S. (in press) Are researchers addressing cancer treatment and survivorship among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the U.S.? A scoping review. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Advance online publication, http://aaidd.org/publications/journals/articles-accepted-for-publication

Williamson, H.J., Armin, J., Stakely, E., Nasimi, B., Joseph, D.H., Meyer, J., & Baldwin, J.A. (2020). Community-engaged research to address health disparities of Indigenous women with disabilities, Annals of International Occupational Therapy. https://doi.org/10.3928/24761222-20201202-02

This research has been supported by the Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (U54CA143925).

Health Care Access

Bottom Line

People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities face challenges in accessing health care which could be resolved by adapting our approaches to providing health care and by providing more resources to assist them in accessing health care.

Details

The following articles highlight disparities in health care access for people with IDD and other disabilities..

Williamson, H. J., Contreras, G. M., Rodriguez, E. S., Smith, J. M., & Perkins, E.A. (2017). Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and health care access: A scoping review. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, doi: 10.1177/1539449217714148

Matin, B.K, Kamall, M., Williamson, H.J., Moradi, F. & Soltani, S. (2019). The predictors and determinants of access to healthcare services for people with disabilities: A cross-sectional study in the Iranian context. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 33, 125. doi: 10.34171/mjiri.33.125

Matin, B.K., Williamson, H.J., Karyani, A.K., Rezaei, S., Soofi, M., & Soltani, S. (2021). Barriers in access to healthcare for women with disabilities: A systematic review in qualitative studies. BMC Women's Health, 21(44), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01189-5

Continuing Medical Education Project

In order to address health care access issues experienced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities here in Arizona, Julie Armin and I will be working with a team from the SONORAN UCEDD to develop continuing medical education videos for primary care providers. Our modules will focus on respectful communication strategies, self-determination, and supported decision making. Funding for this project is from the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.

Health And Wellness for Native American Adults with Disabilities

Bottom Line

Native American adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their family caregivers report that connection to their community, keeping connected to family and family traditions, and being active in their community through work and recreation are most important for their health and wellness.

Details

I recently completed a community-engaged research project exploring health equity for Native American adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. We have presented the project nationally at AAIDD and AOTA, and we recently were published in the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities.

Williamson, H.J., Brennan, A., Tress, S., Joseph, D., & Baldwin, J.A. (2019). Exploring health and wellness among Native American adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their family caregivers. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 00:1–7. https ://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12664

This research was supported in full with an American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) Intervention Research Grant (AOTF2016IRG16WILLIAMSON), and highlighted as an example of participatory action research by AOTF during Native American Heritage Month.