WHAT CAN THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY DO BETTER?
Attend a Listening Session to Give Your Input

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED

The Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) is hosting three "Listening Sessions" and needs your participation to improve the understanding of Autism and other developmental disabilities by medical professionals.

Join ASGA for a listening session to:

• Share your story -- good and/or bad -- about your interactions with the medical field 
• Provide a variety of perspectives - parents, self-advocates, and support professionals
• Lend a diverse voice - people of different races, gender identities, income, and ages are needed

Stories MUST be related to the person with a disability and are needed to offer ways to improve healthcare interactions. Please share stories about experiences with going to the doctor for wellness visits, procedures, lab tests, any interactions needed for health reasons (not just related to the disability).

Now is the time to make your suggestions on how the healthcare community can better adapt and accommodate individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities to achieve better long-term health outcomes.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Registration required for the Zoom meeting that best fits your primary role.

Support Professionals: Mar 7, Noon - 1pm
Do you provide support to individuals with disabilities as a home health care aid, residential services, or other professional support that requires you to be present at medical appointments? What problems have you encountered? What would make your job easier to ensure better health outcomes for those you support? What do you want the medical community to know?

Parents/Guardians: Mar 7, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Please tell us your stories of you minor or adult children/ward as you navigate the healthcare system for those unable to speak for themselves? What would make taking them to the doctor easier? Or a hospital stay?

Self-Advocates: Mar 8, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
If you can speak for yourself, please do! We want to hear what would help you advocate for yourself, and what you want the medical community to know or change to support better health outcomes for you.

Space in each listening session is limited to 20 participants.

Please note that all submissions are appreciated! In order to ensure a broad array of voices and backgrounds are heard, not all submissions can be included. ASGA will notify all submitters on March 5 to advise if they have been chosen to participate in the listening session.