In this ECHO series, health professionals were supported in a community-of-practice environment to build their confidence and competence in discovering how to work more effectively and efficiently with patients who have an intellectual disability. The aim of this series was to enhance health professional capacity to deliver inclusive practice. The target audience of the series was primary and tertiary health care services and those they interface with, inclusive of but not limited to, all health professionals, GPs, allied health professionals and clinic staff.
Why is this training necessary?
Statistics from the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability 2021 – 2031 indicate that in comparison to the general population, people with an intellectual disability experience:
- More than twice the rate of avoidable deaths
- Twice the rate of emergency department and hospital admissions
- Substantially higher rates of physical and mental health conditions, and
- Significantly lower rates of preventative healthcare.
The Project ECHO – Intellectual Disability Information and Education Series has concluded after the delivery of four series. Please see details below to view recordings of the ECHO series, noting that case studies have been removed.
View the SPIDAH Education Playlist on Inclusive Practice
You can watch the SPIDAH Education playlist on Inclusive Practice and Reasonable Adjustments (Increase your knowledge on ID). This playlist is inclusive of ECHO sessions, as well as webinars targeting the health of people with intellectual disability and other related training recordings.
Content in the playlist includes but is not limited to:
- A fresh look at intellectual disability
- Communication and decision-making
- Reasonable adjustments
- Transitions in healthcare
- Dual disability (intellectual disability and mental health)
- NDIS demystified for GPs and primary health professionals
- Trauma-informed healthcare (supporting children)
Learning outcomes for accredited CPD points:
- Recall the terminology used when describing intellectual disability and developmental disabilities.
- Identify solutions to support primary health care professionals deliver high-quality health care that is tailored to the individual needs of people with an intellectual disability.
- Assess the disparities and health inequalities in access to primary healthcare experienced by people with an intellectual disability.
- Summarise how to implement reasonable adjustments and alternative communication styles for people with complex care needs in primary care settings.
GPs can self-record Reviewing Performance hours via MyCPD QuickLog.
Upcoming training opportunities
See the Events and Education page for upcoming training opportunities.
More information
Find out more about WVPHN’s Supporting People with Intellectual Disability to Access Health (SPIDAH) Project.