Throughout October 2017, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada (DAWN Canada) will be sharing information to raise awareness of the barriers which limit access to health care, along with resources to address them. Our resources focus on the particular challenges and successes that women with disabilities and Deaf women face in getting equitable breast cancer treatment.

Here is a summary of our available resources:

More details of these barriers can be found in our infographic on Cancer and Disability.

Our learning brief is full of concrete examples of what’s working and what can be done to increase access to health care services and improve on the low screening and higher morbidity rates we find still in women with disabilities and Deaf women.

Our PSA encourages people with disabilities and Deaf persons to get screened.

We have other resources on breast cancer and disability:

-      Bonnie Brayton’s blog, published in 2016, “Not everyone is in the Pink: On collective responsibility for Breast Cancer Awareness” highlights barriers that women with disabilities and Deaf women face.

-      A blog “l’équité pour atteindre l’égalité, c’est une responsabilité collective !” by Ms Selma Kouidri, published in 2016, our Inclusion Coordinator for Quebec highlights the challenges still faced by women with disabilities and Deaf women. (in French only)

-      Our interview with Dr. Lucie Kocum “Breast Cancer and Return to work” highlights the challenges faced by breast cancer survivors, in particular women with disabilities, when they return to work. (in English only)

-      The findings of ourEnvironmental Scan on Women with Disabilities and Breast Cancer Screening:  Identified Problems, Strategies and Recommended Next Steps conducted in 2013 for Canadian Breast Cancer Network continues to be as relevant as ever.

You can also “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to show your support for health equity for people with disabilities!