Reaching Sensory Impaired Reaching Sensory Impaired (Blind & Deaf) Communities – (Blind & Deaf) Communities –

Research Findings Research Findings

Lynn TobinLynn Tobin

Cheshire & MerseysideCheshire & Merseyside

August 2008August 2008

Prevalent Health InequalitiesPrevalent Health Inequalities

Sensory Impaired (blind & deaf)Sensory Impaired (blind & deaf) Learning disabilityLearning disability Black & racial minoritiesBlack & racial minorities Mental healthMental health Physical disabilityPhysical disability Low literacyLow literacy

Research StudyResearch Study

Commissioned by national office, £24.5kCommissioned by national office, £24.5k

Look at the processes from invitation to Look at the processes from invitation to receipt of completed FOBt kitreceipt of completed FOBt kit

Disability Discrimination Act (1995)Disability Discrimination Act (1995)

DDA gives disabled people important rights of DDA gives disabled people important rights of access to everyday servicesaccess to everyday services

Under DDA it is unlawful for service providers to Under DDA it is unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourablytreat disabled people less favourably

As a result, service providers now have to make As a result, service providers now have to make ‘reasonable adjustments’‘reasonable adjustments’

Take up of preventative healthcare amongst Take up of preventative healthcare amongst disabled people is low disabled people is low (Disability Rights Commission, (Disability Rights Commission, 2007)2007)

Vision ImpairmentVision Impairment

Approximately 300,000 people in England Approximately 300,000 people in England are registered blind or partially sighted are registered blind or partially sighted (DoH, (DoH, 2003)2003)

Up to another 75,000 who are eligible are Up to another 75,000 who are eligible are not registered not registered (DoH, 2003)(DoH, 2003)

Approximately 2 million people in UK self-Approximately 2 million people in UK self-define as having sight problems define as having sight problems (Government (Government Disability Survey, 1997)Disability Survey, 1997)

85% are aged 65 and over 85% are aged 65 and over (Government Disability (Government Disability Survey, 1997Survey, 1997))

Hearing ImpairmentHearing Impairment

Approximately 213,000 people in England Approximately 213,000 people in England are registered deaf or hard of hearing are registered deaf or hard of hearing (DoH, (DoH, 2004)2004)

Approximately 9 million people in UKApproximately 9 million people in UK self-self-define as having hearing problems define as having hearing problems (RNID, (RNID, 2004)2004)

75% of these people are aged 60 and over 75% of these people are aged 60 and over (RNID, 2004)(RNID, 2004)

Additional DisabilitiesAdditional Disabilities

Some suffer from both impairmentsSome suffer from both impairments

Low literacy levels Low literacy levels

Some of the BarriersSome of the Barriers

Information not usually developed or Information not usually developed or produced in appropriate formatsproduced in appropriate formats

Staff not adequately prepared or trained to Staff not adequately prepared or trained to interact with these groupsinteract with these groups

Buildings, equipment and facilities not Buildings, equipment and facilities not organised with their needs in mindorganised with their needs in mind

Communication is biggest barrierCommunication is biggest barrier These issues likely to be important These issues likely to be important

influencing factors on screening uptakeinfluencing factors on screening uptake

Aims & ObjectivesAims & Objectives

Collaborative working across Cheshire & Collaborative working across Cheshire & Merseyside with local sensory impaired Merseyside with local sensory impaired groupsgroups

Identify barriers for participationIdentify barriers for participation Make recommendations for strategies which Make recommendations for strategies which

would address barrierswould address barriers Peer reviewed publicationPeer reviewed publication

ApproachApproach

Steering group with representation from:Steering group with representation from:– Health promotionHealth promotion– Primary carePrimary care– Public healthPublic health– Patient & carerPatient & carer– Blind & deaf societiesBlind & deaf societies– RNIBRNIB– RNIDRNID– Equality & diversityEquality & diversity– UniversityUniversity

Methodology & EvaluationMethodology & Evaluation

In partnership with University of Chester, In partnership with University of Chester, Centre for Public Health ResearchCentre for Public Health Research

Literature reviewLiterature review Data collection via focus groups/interviewsData collection via focus groups/interviews Provision of key recommendationsProvision of key recommendations

Key FindingsKey Findings

Engage support organisations to ensure wider Engage support organisations to ensure wider dissemination of informationdissemination of information

Consider training ambassadors within deaf Consider training ambassadors within deaf communitycommunity

Screening staff to work closely with staff in health Screening staff to work closely with staff in health care, social services & voluntary sectorcare, social services & voluntary sector

Establish text phone and email helplineEstablish text phone and email helpline Target isolated individuals to promote screening Target isolated individuals to promote screening

Key FindingsKey Findings

Simplify language usedSimplify language used Include more pictures and diagramsInclude more pictures and diagrams Consider a re-design of the test kitConsider a re-design of the test kit Provide participants with larger envelopesProvide participants with larger envelopes Provide participants with sampling potsProvide participants with sampling pots

Next StepsNext Steps

National office to review research findings National office to review research findings Develop any strategies from the research Develop any strategies from the research

findingsfindings Develop research proposal to test out any Develop research proposal to test out any

such strategiessuch strategies

QuestionsQuestions