PRESS RELEASE: Doncaster group publishes innovative appointment card for people with learning disabilities
31st May 2018
Doncaster group publishes innovative appointment card for people with learning disabilities
A local peer support group is celebrating the completion of a unique appointment card to help people with learning disabilities attend their health and care appointments, with the aid of a grant from Healthwatch Doncaster.
Louise and Raymond from ChAD with the newly devised appointment cards
Choice for All Doncaster (ChAD) is a committee of adults who have a learning disability, and they have put the finishing touches to an appointment card to help remind people of their representative group to attend their GP, doctor, hospital or optician visits. The card will allow staff to note the dates and times in a way that is understandable for patients using it.
Louise Darling (pictured), a member of ChAD, said: “There’s not a card similar to this in Doncaster and in other areas locally so we hope everyone finds it helpful, just as much as we do!”
The process to produce the card, following the funds obtained via Healthwatch Doncaster’s 2017 micro-grant scheme, followed extensive outreach initially looking at whether dental practices were learning disability friendly.
Sue Millward, Peer Support worker, who assists the group in their day-to-day activities, said: “Once they had gathered a selection of views from the people they represent, it was clear people who use the service had concerns about the format of appointment information they received. This led the group to work passionately on creating an easy-read appointment card, which after months of effort, is now completed.”
ChAD hope the completed product will generate interest from local health and care providers who may be keen to implement it in their administrative processes, to help people with a learning disability fulfil their appointments.
The appointment cards ChAD members created after their outreach work
“It was great to go out and speak to people with a learning disability about their experiences at a dentist, and we’re happy with the card we’ve produced that has had so much positive feedback,” said Raymond Humphryes (pictured), a member of the ChAD group.
For more information or if you would like to order a personalised supply for your practice please contact ChAD on 01302 965452
(Post April 2020)
Since this time the cards have proven to be as huge success with many practices contacting us for constant further supplies. They were initially intended for people who have a Learning Disability however we have been informed by lots of practices that they have been beneficial for members of the public of all ages.
