Breast Health for Women with Disabilities

Women First: Breast Health for Women with Developmental Disabilities Handbook

• Women First Handbook
• Breast Health Calendar
• Tips for Care Providers

The Women First handbook and accompanying materials are available in PDF format. To access these files, you will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader.

The handbook is also available in print format while supplies last. If you would like to receive a print copy, please contact the WIND Resource Library at 307-766-2935 or windlib@uwyo.edu.

About the Handbook

This guide has been developed specifically to help women with developmental disabilities learn basic breast health information. Care providers and self-advocates are encouraged to use this guide when discussing issues related to breast self exams, breast cancer, regular visits to their health care providers, and staying healthy in general.

How To Use The Handbook

Self-advocates should be encouraged to use this guide as a tool to help them be a part of their own health care. It has been designed to be placed in a notebook that may also serve as a single storage place for their personal health information and taken with them when they visit their health care provider. The calendar that has been included can be used to track monthly self exams and yearly visits with their personal health care provider. Additionally, the calendar can be photocopied and reused on an annual basis.

Important Notes

It was not possible to present every issue related to breast health and breast cancer in this handbook. However, it is hoped that it can be used as a starting point to introduce these topics and raise awareness of how important it is for women with developmental disabilities to be involved in their own health care. It is expected that care providers and women with developmental disabilities will engage in multiple conversations about these topics and breast health will become a regular part of every woman’s health regime.

It also should be noted that not all methods and techniques for conducting a breast self exam are presented in this guide. Therefore, to ensure that the breast self exam is being conducted correctly, a qualified health care provider should be consulted.