Screening Accessibility Project: Disability, Neurodivergence and Trans+

Over the past two years Help & Care have worked closely with partners to explore how access to cancer care and services can be improved for disabled / neurodivergent and trans+ people. We did this through Trans Aware Cancer Care, What I’d Like to Say and What I’d Like to Change projects.

We are excited that as a result of this work, the first steps are being taken to turn our research into action.

Community Researchers from both the trans+ and disability / neurodivergent projects are about to undertake a full review of the breast / chest screening service at University Hospital Southampton. Supported by Help & Care and local trans+ charity Beyond Reflections, the team will undertake in person visits, review patient communications and work closely with the team to implement solutions to make the service more accessible.

Get involved – we need you!

Share your experiences: Are you part of the trans+, disabled or neurodivergent community? We would love to hear your experiences of breast / chest screening at University Hospital Southampton. This could be an idea for improvement, or it could be an example of good care that you’d like to share. Reach out to us at involvingpeople@helpandcare.org.uk.

Join us as a Community Researcher: Would you like to support this project in a paid capacity? We are looking for people from the trans+ and disabled / neurodivergent Community to join us as researchers. Full details and information can be found here.

Focus groups: As part of this work we will be setting up focus groups of disabled, neurodivergent and trans+ people and groups. They will work on suggestions for improvement and ensure we reach a diverse range of people. If you are part of a group or want to join a focus group as an individual, email involvingpeople@helpandcare.org.uk.

Once solutions have been established and agreed with the screening team, we will be sharing the ‘good practice’ in the hope that it can be rolled out to other cancer screening services both locally and nationally.

Follow this page for updates on the project, and if you have any questions please contact us.