BreastCheck- Commitment to Disability
Under the BreastCheck women's charter we have made a clear commitment to provide equal access for all eligible women including those with special needs
In line with this commitment the following items have been put in place:
Accessible information:
- All efforts are made to ensure that simple, sensitive and easy to understand language is used in materials and on websites. This is done to address barriers to screening which include fear, literacy difficulties, language barriers and embarrassment. This was acknowledged in the Best Health Promotion Project category of CrystalClear Health Literacy Awards 2010
- Our registration form requests that a woman advises BreastCheck of any additional needs to be considered during her screening appointment to ensure that she is accommodated and longer screening appointments are provided. These are sometime needed if a woman has breast implants, mobility issues, is deaf, blind or has an intellectual disability
- Our letter of appointment also reiterates that any additional needs or special requests be notified to BreastCheck
- An illustrated ‘Guide to Breast Screening’ has been developed for women with an intellectual disability. The Guide, approved by NALA and the National Council for the Blind, is available on request and can also be accessed through our website. Radiographers in all our screening units hold a copy. In addition a copy can be mailed to residential homes on request
- All of our leaflets and letters are approved by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)
- Certain letters and brochures are available in braille further items can be made available on request
- Information is available regarding the BreastCheck screening service on request, in an accessible form including a video tape and a DVD
- A loop system for deaf people is available in all static BreastCheck units
- A sign language interpreter can be made available on request at our screening units
Consultation:
- The National Cancer Screening Service established a formal consultation process in autumn 2009 seeking to hear the views and opinions of special interest groups on initiatives that in their opinion would maximise and sustain uptake of our screening programmes. In excess of 30 participants representing national community network groups such as: National Council for Blind in Ireland, The Irish Deaf Society, The National Women’s Council of Ireland, Traveller groups, Intercultural groups and the Irish Cancer Society took part in a roundtable workshop in March 2010. The outcome of this process included suggestions and recommendations which will further inform our approach to improving access to our screening services
Accessible website:
- Our web designers have developed and tailored our website in an accessible manner. A further review of accessibility will be carried out in Spring – Summer 2010 to improve further
Accessible buildings:
- All of our mobile units and screening units are fully accessible to people with disabilities and are wheelchair accessible for most types of wheelchair. Women are asked to notify local BreastCheck units to check if your wheelchair is accessible
BreastCheck Access Team:
A team has been formed to review accessibility to the BreastCheck service
In addition the access team will:
- Support the role of the BreastCheck Access Officer
- Encourage compliance with the Disability Act 2005
- Develop an action plan to progress accessibility requirements across BreastCheck
BreastCheck Access Officer
BreastCheck has appointed Ms Aoife Collins as Access Officer. Additional help for people with disabilities can be arranged by phoning (021) 4649720 or by sending an email to Aoife.collins@cancerscreening.ie
BreastCheck Inquiry officer
Each BreastCheck building has an Inquiry Officer who will investigate any comment concerning accessibility.
Please contact screening unit click into contacts list
http://www.breastcheck.ie/contact.html