Every Victorian should have equal access to cancer information and support that they can understand and use.
According to the Australian Cancer Plan, people with disability face higher risk factors for some cancers when compared to people without disability. People with disability may also experience structural, physical, communication and attitudinal barriers to cancer screening, diagnostic tests, treatment, and survivorship care.
In Australia, roughly one in six people (18%, or about 4.4 million people) live with disability. With half of us expected to be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85, many people with disability will need access to cancer information and support services.
Learn more
It’s important that people with disability are involved in conversations and decisions regarding their care. And the way cancer information is delivered by health professionals can make a significant difference.
By asking about someone’s needs and tailoring your response to their requirements, people with disability can:
- make more informed decisions that better their health,
- engage more confidently with health professionals,
- manage their own care, and
- participate more equitably in health services such as cancer screening.
“People with disability tell us that they often experience incorrect assumptions and ableism when accessing health care. Providing a range of accessible resources is one step towards ensuring people with disability feel empowered, informed and supported.” - Ada Castle, Cancer Council Victoria’s Screening, Early Detection and Immunisation Community Engagement Lead.
Our resources for people with disability provide cancer information in multiple formats including Easy English, social scripts and animations. These resources can be helpful to those with an intellectual disability, low literacy, low health literacy, and those who are not familiar with English.
We also provide cancer information in languages other than English, and have a range of resources on cancer screening for people with disability. These resources can be useful for people with disability, health and disability professionals, and loved ones who support a person with disability through their cancer experience.
Learn more about support for people with disability.