Inclusive communication improves health outcomes for people with Down syndrome

People with intellectual disability often have worse health outcomes than other members of the community, over twice the rate of avoidable deaths, lower rates of preventative healthcare and twice the number of hospital admissions. In 2018 the first national survey on attitudes toward people with disability was undertaken by the Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health (Opens in new tab), showing 78 per cent of respondents agreed that they were unsure how to act toward people with disability.

The Down Syndrome Australia (Opens in new tab) (DSA) Health Ambassador Project is changing these statistics. Down Syndrome Australia has employed people with Down syndrome from around Australia to educate health care workers on the importance of inclusive communication.

Through face-to-face and online presentations, the DSA Health Ambassadors (Opens in new tab) share their own experiences in the health system and work to educate health professionals. The DSA Health Ambassadors demonstrate that when small and reasonable adjustments to communication styles are made to a health professional’s practice, the result is positive health outcomes for people with intellectual disability.

The DSA Health Ambassadors work to change preconceived ideas and educate doctors and other health care workers about Down syndrome and how to include people with disability in their own health conversations. The Ambassadors are advisors and co-designers of health resources, feature in the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability (Opens in new tab) and deliver webinars and presentations about inclusive communication.

For more information on the Health Ambassador Program or to have a Health Ambassador present to your organisation anywhere in Australia, contact Health Program Manager Natalie Graham on: natalie.graham@downsyndrome.org.au