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Accessible Breast Health Services for Women with Physical Disabilities

United Cerebral Palsy of New York City (UCP/NYC) provides a unique service—access to high quality mammography and breast health services for women with physical disabilities.

Early detection is pivotal to the successful treatment of breast cancer, yet for many women with physical disabilities mammography is simply out of reach. Numerous barriers unique to their physical limitations hinder access to this potentially lifesaving service.

As a result, they are at increased risk for delayed diagnosis, posing serious threats to their survival if a malignancy is discovered.

Key features of the program include health advocates, who provide crucial emotional, physical and logistical support to each woman before, during and after the mammagram. Advocates also coordinate with a local breast-imaging center that provides wheelchair-accessible mammography.

The UCP/NYC program also led to the recent release of an informational video titled Removing Barriers to Mammography for Women with Physical Disabilities.

Funded by a grant from the Greater New York City Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the groundbreaking video highlights the pressing need for accessible breast health services for women with physical and developmental disabilities.

Using the unique breast health program at UCP/NYC as a backdrop, the video provides information to consumers, staff, and health care professionals on how to clear the barriers to quality breast health services for women with physical disabilities.

The video features many of the women who participated in the program.

"Through their contributions, we discovered a great deal about what works and what does not work, says Kathy Kelly, Director of Clinical Services at UCP/NYC. "Thanks to these women and their insights, we continue to find innovative ways of providing high quality breast health services to women with physical disabilities."

For further information about UCP/NYC’s breast health program, please contact Kathy Kelly at 212-677-7400, ext. 130. To purchase a video or DVD, call: 1-800-448-3827, ext. 226 or visit the UCP/NYC Web site at www.ucpnyc.org.

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