TO THE EDITOR: Goddard et al, authors of ?People
with an intellectual disability in the discourse of
chronic and complex conditions: an invisible
group??1 are to be congratulated for raising discussion
about one of the most vulnerable groups
in Australia with respect to their receipt of optimal
health care. The authors conclude that
?developing interventions and strategies to
increase the knowledge of health care workers . . .
caring for people with intellectual disabilities will
likely improve the health care needs of this
population and their families?. In relation to this
identified need for health professional education
and training in the care of people with intellectual
disabilities, we would like to draw the attention
of your readers to some work undertaken by the
Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria
(CDDHV) to address this issue.
The CDDHV works to improve the health and
health care of people with developmental disabilities
through a range of educational, research and
clinical activities. In recent years there has been
an increasing awareness of the need for health
professional education in this area. Moreover, as
people with disabilities often have chronic and
complex health and social issues, focusing on
their health care provides a platform for interprofessional
education and a springboard for understanding
the essential importance and value of
interprofessional practice.
Recently, the CDDHV has taken a lead role in
developing a teaching and learning resource that
focuses both on the health care of people with
disabilities and on the importance and value of
interprofessional practice. This resource promotes
and facilitates interprofessional learning, and
develops understanding of the health and health
care issues experienced by people with disabilities
and those who support them.
?Health and disability: partnerships in action? is a
new video-based teaching and learning package,
produced through an interprofessional collaboration
between health professionals from medicine,
nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy,
paramedic practice, health science, social work,
speech pathology, dietetics and dentistry. Those
living with a disability are the experts on their
own experience and so their direct involvement
in and contribution to the education of health
care professionals is essential. The collaboration
between those featured in the video stories and
health professionals has led to the development of
a powerful resource that facilitates students and
practitioners developing insights into the health
and health care issues encountered by people
with developmental disabilities. We also believe
that through improving their understanding of,
and health provision to, people with disabilities
and those who support them, health professionals
will acquire valuable attitudes, knowledge and
skills applicable to many other patients in their
practice population.
Jane M Tracy
Education Director
Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria
Melbourne, VIC
A Comparative Review of Canadian Health Professional Education Accreditation Systems
