Funded by The WITH Foundation, Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at University of Rochester partnered with University of Rochester Medical Center Interpreter Services, Ibero-American Action League, and Jeiri Flores and Jensen Caraballo, two Latinx self-advocates, to deliver a training to Spanish-speaking medical interpreters to improve the healthcare experience for Spanish-speaking people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. The training covered health disparities for people with IDD, disability history, intersections between Latinx and disability cultural values, and communication strategies for working with patients. While interpreters are familiar with Latinx cultural values, they were able to consider how these cultural values impact Latinx people with IDD in medical settings, and how to act as advocates in ensuring patient understanding.
"The interpreters were receptive and eager to expand their knowledge and understanding, and as the first training came to a close we realized that we had created something that was not only unique but needed," according to Jeiri Flores, self-advocate and trainer on this project. Training evaluations confirm Jeiri's impressions, with more than 90% of interpreters expressing high satisfaction with the training, and many commenting that the opportunity to learn directly from Jeiri and Jensen was the most valuable part.
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/strong-center-developmental-disabilities.aspx
Melissa Pennise, MPH
Senior Health Project Coordinator for Health Disparities
Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)
Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
University of Rochester Medical Center
Melissa_Pennise@urmc.rochester.edu
585-275-3378