Kristin Balfanz-VertizSchwab Rehabilitation Hospitalbalkr@sinai.org #P102

Confronting Multiple Oppressions: Examining the Needs of People with Disabilities who are of Hispanic/Latino Descent

Kristin Balfanz-Vertiz, Kimberly M. Taylor, & Joel Irizarry

The Hispanic population has become the fastest growing minority group in in the United States. Accordingly, the number of Hispanics with disabilities living in this country has significantly increased. But while their numbers have increased, services have not necessarily followed.

Hispanic individuals with disabilities have a unique set of needs that service systems are not currently designed to meet. These needs are varied but include language accommodations and cultural understanding. Recognizing these needs, and seeking to better facilitate the success of our growing Hispanic patient population, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital in Chicago recently conducted a needs assessment with our Hispanic patients with disabilities.

Our research project has two steps. Step 1 was a survey with 71 Hispanic individuals who have disabilities. The interviewees were connected with Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, either as patients who completed inpatient rehabilitation at Schwab or patients who received outpatient care at Schwab. Participants were interviewed by phone and in-person. Step 2 consisted of in-depth interviews with 20 individuals. 80% of interview participants had a spinal cord injury. 77% had acquired their injuries through gunshot wounds, while 11% had a motor vehicle accident. 43% are fluent in English & Spanish., although literacy rates were low. The majority of respondents face issues associated with living in an inner-city environment.

Seven primary domains of each interviewee were analyzed: demographics, education, medical services, employment, housing, transportation and utilization of social/ financial services.

Many of these issues intertwine & complicate Many of these issues intertwine & complicate other ones:other ones:

Inaccessible homeInaccessible home: can’t go to work or school: can’t go to work or school

UnemployedUnemployed: limited insurance & finances to take : limited insurance & finances to take care of healthcare of health

Health issuesHealth issues: can’t leave home to access social : can’t leave home to access social services to gain new transportation options, services to gain new transportation options, learn about benefits, or attend schoollearn about benefits, or attend school

Participant suggestions for making disability Participant suggestions for making disability & healthcare status less of an obstacle:& healthcare status less of an obstacle:

Educate people on how to take care of their Educate people on how to take care of their bodies.bodies.

Help people get into home schoolingHelp people get into home schooling Show people examples of successful living for Show people examples of successful living for

PWDPWD Find resources for people who are Find resources for people who are

undocumentedundocumented Provide transportationProvide transportation Provide mentoring servicesProvide mentoring services Train people on new life skillsTrain people on new life skills Provide recreational areasProvide recreational areas

Average Number of Days per Week Participants Leave Home

(0, 1-2, 3-4, or 5-7 days)

Introduction

Methods

Results: Education Results: Employment Discussion

It is essential to consider the obstacles patients face within their broader context,

and to remember the multiple ways barriers can build upon one another.

High-quality, low-cost social services can provide information & resources to help

individuals overcome the barriers they face.

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Hollister, Inc. fortheir support of this project.

8th grade or less 42.3

11th grade or less 21.8

Diploma/GED 12.8

Some college 21.8

Unknown 1.3

Highest level of education

Is Attending School vs. Want to Attend School

Primary obstacles to Work

19%

72%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Attending School Want to Attend School

• Health status / disability (56%)• Lack of job opportunities (34%)• Transportation (30%)• Lack of knowledge about opportunities (30%)• Inability to leave house independently, due to

inaccessibility (16%)

10% 14%

85%

20%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Prior to Injury Since injury

Part-time Full-time

Employment: pre and post injury

Results: Housing

Enter and move around in:

Bedroom? Kitchen?

Bathroom? Living room?

93% Yes 7% No93% Yes 7% No73% Yes 27% No94% Yes 6% No

Can participant enter & exit home alone? 71% Yes 29% No

Results: Transportation

8%

31%

20%

41%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

0 1-2 3-4 5-7

Number of days per week