• Meaningful conversations between doctors and People with Disabilities.

    What methods of support help People with Disabilities talk with doctors, and what barriers to meaningful communication might there be?

  • The following Questionnaire is about how People with Disabilities communicate with healthcare professionals.

    If this applies to you, your input and advice would be really welcome. You don’t need to answer every question if you don’t want to, but every answer helps.

     There is a "save" option at the bottom of the questions, next to "submit" if you would like to come back to this questionnaire at a later date.

  • How would you like to fill out this form?
  • Is anyone helping you fill out this survey?
  • How often do you visit a doctor?
  • Do you go to the doctor because of your disability?
  • Do you go by yourself when you visit a doctor?
  • Who do you take with you when you visit a doctor?
  • Do you visit the same doctor every time you go?
  • Have you ever talked to the doctor over the phone, or over a video-call?
  • How do you prefer to talk to your doctor?
  • Do you use a type of Sign Language?
  • Do you ever use any types of devices to help you talk to your doctor?
  • Is it ever hard to understand what the doctor tells you?
  • Do you like to use Easy-Read to help you learn confusing things?
  • Has your doctor ever given you Easy-Read?
  • Does your doctor ever not understand what you are saying?
  • If you and your doctor don't understand each other, what needs to change?
  • What relationship do you have with the individual?
  • Are doctor’s visits a big part of their life?
  • How often do they visit a doctor or any other specialist healthcare providers?
  • Are the reasons for their usual visits related to their disability?
  • Is transport a big consideration when going?
  • Do they use public transport?
  • Do they go in by themselves when they visit a doctor, or do you go in with them?
  • Do they usually visit the same doctor?
  • If yes, or sometimes, do you or they have a good relationship with the doctor?
  • Has the individual ever spoken to the doctor over the phone, or on a video-call, instead of seeing them in person?
  • If they have before, do you or they prefer this to seeing them in person?
  • Do they use a type of Sign Language?
  • Do they ever use any type of Augmentative or Alternative Communication device (AAC)?
  • Do they ever have trouble understanding what the doctor is telling them?
  • Do they like to use Easy-Read to help learn complicated information?
  • If yes, has their doctor ever provided information to them in Easy-Read?
  • Does the doctor ever have trouble understanding what the individual is saying?
  • Do you find the need to debrief after a doctor’s visit?
  • Are there things that need to be re-explained or discussed with the individual?
  • Do you work in public or private healthcare?
  • Are their reasons for seeing you related to their disability?
  • Have you ever fulfilled your role by providing over-the-phone care, or by using a video-call?
  • Have you treated patients that use Augmentative or Alternative Communication (AAC)?
  • Have you treated patients that use text-to-speech, refreshable braille displays, or related devices?
  • Have you treated patients who prefer to use Easy-Read resources?
  • If so, were you able to find suitable resources to provide to your patients?
  • Have you received any training or resources to help you talk with patients who may have a communication or intellectual disability?

  • Thank you so much for your time and effort!

    If you would like to discuss any of your answers or would be willing to talk about the topic further, please feel free to email me at: kdun2491@uni.sydney.edu.au

  • Should be Empty: