December 3rd, 2021 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It is a day for promoting the rights and well-being of people living with disabilities. This year’s theme is Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 world. At PHN-PREP we celebrate the work of public health nurses with disabilities and recognize their leadership and participation on home-visiting teams and in their responses towards pandemic recovery. We also recognize the many parents in Ontario who are living with disability. It may be surprising to hear that 1 in 8 pregnancies are to people with disabilities, yet many nurses feel unequipped to support their clients through this transition. Accessibility considerations are important for a large proportion of the new parents you might be visiting. Recently we worked with disability researchers, Dr. Hilary Brown and Dr. Lesley Tarasoff to develop practical guidance and tips for public health nurses who are supporting clients with disabilities. The tool offers practical and simple advice that can help nurses provide equitable care to new parents with disabilities. In fact, making life more accessible for those with disabilities can benefit everyone!
This new PHN-PREP resource document is available now: Supporting People with Disabilities in Pregnancy, Labour and Delivery, and Postpartum: Resources for Public Health Nurses