Comprehensive Approach to Disability (KISC)

4 units

Persons with a disability (mobility, cognition, sensory, mental health, etc.) make up 25% of the population and are three times more likely than persons without a disability to interact with healthcare. However, research has shown that most physicians are not confident in their ability to provide quality care and tend to have an erroneous perceptions on the quality of life for people with disability. The goal of Comprehensive Approach to Disability - From Bedside to Living Well is to offer students the opportunity to build comfort and confidence working with patients with disabilities and to understand the wider context of their lives beyond the healthcare setting. The information offered in this course is useful for any specialty which demands a high degree of patient interactions, and is especially pertinent, but not limited to: PM&R, Orthopaedic Surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OBGYN, and Psychiatry. In this course, medical students will be immersed in the complex and often challenging world of living with a disability. Topics that will be explored include: models of disability; the World Health Organization's approach to human functioning; disability history; ableism; community programs and services; environmental modifications for access; assistive technology; physical activity and adaptive sports; health care access and support; sexuality and parenting; employment; rehabilitation hospitals; and governmental structures and policies. We will enhance students' ability to answers questions such as, "What will my patient's life look like after discharge?", "How can I help my patients live in a way that is meaningful to them?", "How can I practice in a way that is accessible to all patients?", and "How do I interact effectively with patients with a disability?". The course will use didactic strategies, such as assigned readings, lectures, videos, and small group discussions, as well as active participation at designated sites, such as the Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis and Paraquad, a community disability organization.