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About Easy Read
Easier words with pictures to help explain some ideas.
Everyone with a disability is a person, first.
People with intellectual disability often have poor health.
Health people should treat everyone as an individual.
Health people should get to know you and:
- what is important to you
- what is happening your life
- what you want in the future
It is also important that health people learn
- how you communicate
- what choices you can make
- what you understand
We must work together to get better health care.
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CommunicationGood health communication helps people with intellectual disability feel supported and know what to do
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Supported decision makingHealth professionals can learn to support people's right to choose
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Understanding intellectual disabilityLearning about intellectual disability starts with seeing everyone as an individual
People with intellectual disability deserve good health care that meets their needs. But often people with intellectual disability have poorer health than other people in the community.
Many health services do not meet the needs of people with intellectual disability. Many health professionals have not had training to help them know what to do.
Health professionals, services and regulators must work together to improve health care for people with intellectual disability.
Good health care:
- respects the rights of people with intellectual disability
- listens to what they need and want
- focuses on the person and their needs
- works with the person and their family and carers if the person wants this support
- uses
Supported decision making is when you make your own choices with help from people you trust. These people help you understand information and think about what might happen. Then you decide what you want to do.
- relies on health professionals working together
- respects cultures, values and identities
- uses good evidence and best practice
- is supported by ongoing learning and leadership.
This section of Our Health Space shares resources for health professionals to help improve the health of people with intellectual disability.
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Communication
Good health communication helps people with intellectual disability feel supported and know what to do
-
Supported decision making
Health professionals can learn to support people's right to choose
-
Understanding intellectual disability
Learning about intellectual disability starts with seeing everyone as an individual