Resources for people with intellectual disability
The National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards support the right of people with intellectual disability to equitable health care. This page provides further resources to assist those with intellectual disability and their family and supporters to understand and advocate for equitable health care, as part of the Commission’s support for improved health care for people with intellectual disability.
Health care of people with intellectual disability
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2024Fact sheet or brochureKnowledge and understanding of how to communicate with people with intellectual disability is vital for safe and high-quality health care. Using positive behaviour support involves strategies that address the needs of the person.
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2024Fact sheet or brochureTransitions of care for people with intellectual disability can be high risk, the successful transfer of information is vital for safe health care.
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2024Fact sheet or brochurePeople with intellectual disability are often at higher risk of adverse effects from medications as the information about their medicine may be difficult to understand.
Four Steps to Inclusive Health Care
The resources below have been developed to raise awareness of the needs of people with intellectual disability in health care.
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2023Fact sheet or brochureHealthcare professionals can use this fact sheet to inform making reasonable adjustments for a person’s intellectual disability to create an inclusive environment and facilitate meeting the NSQHS Standards.
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2023Fact sheet or brochureThis poster can be displayed in health services to inform clinicians about people with intellectual disability and the provision of inclusive health care that is safe and high quality.
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2023Fact sheet or brochureAn Easy Read document for people with intellectual disability. It aims to support people with intellectual disability, their supporters and clinicians to talk about the person’s disability and what they need to make their health care accessible.
External resources
Resources for people with intellectual disability and their family and supporters:
- The Council for Intellectual Disability (CID) has health guides in Easy Read for people with intellectual disability
- Speech Pathology Australia has a range of fact sheets (with Easy Read)
- Developmental Disability WA provides training opportunities (including online courses), resources, support and practical assistance for support groups, and they conduct a number of projects involving people with intellectual disability
- Books Beyond Words are wordless picture stories covering topics including physical and mental health. Each story is co-created with and for people who find pictures easier to understand than words
- Easy Health is an online library of accessible health information with simple words, clear pictures and films. It is free to join to access all the resources.