Access to Care for People with Disabilities

Henry Schein Supports Individuals with Disabilities

There are over 60 million Americans with disabilities and according to the World Bank, over 1 billion people, or 15% of the world's population, experience some form of disability, and disability prevalence is higher for developing countries. The number one health care problem they face is simply finding competent dentistry. Only 2.7% of people in the U.S. with intellectual disabilities can find a dentist to provide specialized care.

For over a decade, Henry Schein Cares has supported and advocated for individuals with disabilities from improving health literacy to ensuring accessibility in health care offices according to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to expanding access to care and developing appropriate financing and reimbursement rates for individuals with disabilities.

In November 2019, Henry Schein formally partnered with the National Council on Disability to coordinate our efforts and better educate the professional medical and dental communities in disability competency ultimately to improve access to care for individuals with disabilities. Over the next five years, we are focused on:

Collaborating with coalitions to advocate for the importance of oral health for individuals with disabilities through key associations, patient advocacy groups, and like-minded organizations such as Project Accessible Oral Health (PAOH) and Sante Fe Group
Co-developing comprehensive sensitivity and competence training for students entering the health care profession in working with the special needs population, and integrating such training into dental and medical school curriculum
Developing training for up-skilling current health care practitioners to comfortably treat the special needs population. Hosted a 6-part Henry Schein Dental Academy webinar series with Dr. Maureen Munnelly Perry that covers treating Individuals with Disabilities. Check here for any new upcoming webinars.
Working with supplier partners to catalyze specialized equipment materials necessary for special needs care are widely available and are incorporated into new builds or updates.
Supporting clinical work to serve individuals with disabilities through customers

Partnerships

Within the U.S.

Project Accessible Oral Health

In 2017, Henry Schein was one of the founding members of the organization Project Accessible Oral Health. PAOH is a global public-private partnership and the first to nationally assemble and connect a consortium of dental and medical professionals, corporations, organizations, policymakers, educators, people with disabilities, caregivers, and other stakeholders in pursuit of equal access to culturally competent oral healthcare. The Project's mission is to act as a collective catalyst for change that will not only improve access to oral healthcare, but also ultimately improve the overall health of the disability community. PAOH and its interconnected partners are uniquely positioned to end this injustice through three strategic pillars: Policy, Education and Advocacy/Awareness.

Special Olympics

Henry Schein is so proud to support Special Olympics Healthy Athletes programs which offers free health screenings and education to Special Olympic athletes, adults and children with intellectual disabilities. The screenings are performed by trained volunteers and offer eight types of screenings: MedFest (history and physical exam), Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes (vision/eye health), Healthy Hearing (audiology), Special Smiles (oral health), Health Promotion (prevention and nutrition), Strong Minds (emotion health), FUNfitness (physical therapy), and Fit Feet (podiatry). Healthy Athletes is not only a program for athletes but, through training and hands-on experience at screenings, it is a program for healthcare students and professionals to increase knowledge of best practices in caring for and communicating with people with intellectual disabilities. These screenings make a huge impact in the lives of volunteers and athletes. Additionally, Henry Schein continues to support Special Olympics as they advocate for the health equity of individuals with IDD especially during COVID-19.

The Viscardi Center

The Viscardi Center educates, employs, and empowers youth, adults, and veterans with disabilities or similar needs, so they can all discover the love of learning, the power of work, the freedom of independent living, and the self-confidence to fulfill our dreams. The vision of The Viscardi Center is to accelerate a more accessible, inclusive world for all people. Henry Schein Cares has partnered to donate necessary medical supplies and equipment that The Viscardi Center's nurses and therapists use to assist students every day; attended several recruiting fairs; and challenge the Henry Viscardi School's Varsity Cougars in wheelchair basketball with the Henry's Cup.

Global

Shalva

Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities is dedicated to providing transformative care for individuals with disabilities, empowering their families and promoting social inclusion.