Promoting Disability Allyship Among Healthcare Providers Through Storytelling

Background:

Healthcare providers are critical allies to people with disabilities and their families. When healthcare providers practice inclusively, everyone benefits. To promote disability allyship among healthcare providers and share recommendations for inclusive practices, the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) created a digital activation and partnered with people with lived experiences of disability and health professionals to solicit their stories and perspectives on building a more inclusive practice. Participants will learn about the ideation and development of the digital activation, including the importance of personal stories to amplify the message, reach, and access for traditionally underserved populations.

Program background:

The Division of Human Development and Disability (DHDD) works to promote health, reduce health inequities, and help people living with disabilities fully participate in all aspects of daily life. DHDD plays a unique and important role as a public health leader in the human development and disability space, striving to provide inclusive and effective public health services to those with, or at risk for, disabilities. DHDD’s public health strategy includes the application of data, surveillance, research, partnerships, communications, and policy to advance its goals. DHDD deploys this strategy in all its work across the lifespan for addressing human development and disability needs.

Evaluation Methods and Results:

Evaluation for this activation will center primarily on collecting and analyzing several key social media metrics, including exposure (total impressions across social media platforms), engagement (likes, shares, saves), and actions (link clicks, videos views, webpage visits, and downloads).

Conclusions:

The use of real stories can help health communicators and programs expand the reach and engagement of their products and materials.

Implications for research and/or practice:

Results from this activation will help health communicators, content creators, and program administrators develop engaging communication materials and tactics that integrate a storytelling approach to promote health messages.