Virtual Conference

May 20, 2021 - May 21, 2021

Needs Statement

While practitioners may be well equipped to care for the health of their patients, the cultural factors that come into play in patient interaction, care and service delivery are oftentimes not taken into account. This activity seeks to equip participants with tools needed to meet the needs of their clients with developmental disabilities in a culturally competent manner. Generally speaking, there is a low level of understanding within the medical profession of the social context of disability and how non-medical factors affect the health of people with disabilities. This lack of understanding, in turn, contributes to less effective medical care for people with disabilities. For many healthcare providers, the gap in competence began with their medical school education as cultural competency curriculum (much less cultural competency in disability) were not a prominent part of the standard medical school curriculum until relatively recent years.

Target Audience

Physicians, nurses, educators, social workers, parents, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the activity, participants should be able to:

• Define unconscious bias in the context of disability service provision
• Recognize the markers and ramifications of unconscious bias within personal work environment
• Possess the tools necessary to actively work against unconscious bias at both a personal and institutional level

Educational Methods

Lecture, Panel Discussion, and Question and Answer Session

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.