Focus Groups: Improving Outcomes for Children with Disabilities Who Also Have Other Identities

 "The DIVERSE Collective" on intersectionality, funded by the Lucille Packard Foundation for Children's Health is a project being conducted by Bethlyn Vergo Houlihan, MSW, MPH, and Dr. Amy Houtrow from the Boston University School of Social Work and University of Pittsburgh, respectively.  They want to speak with families/caregivers of children and/or youth with disabilities to get ideas about how to improve the health and well-being of the children and youth with disabilities who are more likely to be treated differently due to their race or income or for other reasons.  Find more information below.

"We know that people with disabilities are sometimes treated differently by the services and supports available, which can lead to poor health.  Children with disabilities-who might also experience unfair treatment or discrimination related to their race or income or other factors-are especially at risk for poor health.  Because not much is known about how to improve this, parents or caregivers of children with disabilities (age 0-26 years) and young adults with disabilities (age 18-26 years) are invited to participate in virtual group conversations about how to make things better.  Our goal is to identify solutions for the unique problems face by children and youth with disabilities, who might also experience unfair treatment related to their race or income or other factors.  

If you are willing to share your expertise, we would very much like to speak with you.  We will usually use a Zoom video call and speak to people in small group, but we are ready to offer accommodations or an alternative method if Zoom does not work for you.  Following the group conversation, you will receive a $100 gift card with our thanks for helping us do this research.  Please let us know that you are interested by filling out this brief form. If you are unable to do so, reach out to the study team at the University of Pittsburgh via Kristyn Felman at kristynfelman@pitt.edu or call 412-692-6410."