Promoting health and self-advocacy for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A service-learning pilot project for community health education students

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are socioeconomically disadvantaged, experience poorer health outcomes and have unmet healthcare needs.  These adults are more likely to die of preventable causes and to die at an earlier age.  As community health education students learn about the health disparities of individuals who are intellectual and developmentally disabled, their learning can be enhanced through service.  This pilot service-learning project was designed to increase the health awareness and health self-advocacy skills of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Student learning outcomes focused on developing competencies in two Certified Health Education Specialist, Areas of Responsibility: VI. Serve as a Health Education Resources Person and VII. Communicate and Advocate for Health and Health Education. The community partner serves individuals and families with special needs.  Adults (N~12) with intellectual and developmental disabilities in residential services, in-home assistance, and adult day programs were recruited through their support professional to participate in the project.  Junior-level community health education majors (N=21) participated in the required service-learning project. Student groups were matched with individual adults. The semester project includes five service-learning phases: 1) orientation/organization, 2) assessment/collaboration, 3) planning/development, 4) implementation and 5) evaluation. Students and consumers participated in reflection activities throughout the project. This pilot project is currently in the assessment phase.  Project completion is May 5, 2015.