Disability

If you or someone you know has a disability and are going to hospital, you can use this information to help you be ready to go to hospital.

• You can choose who you want to go with you
• Find out what will be helpful to take with you
• How to get help if you need to make decisions
• What happens after you leave the hospital

Hospital Stay Guidelines

The guide will help to improve the hospital experience for people with disability and help people to have more say in their healthcare.

• A guide for people with disability, families, friends and carers (PDF 4.2MB).

Easy read Hospital Stay Guidelines

• Easy read 1: Getting ready for hospital (PDF 3MB)
• Easy read 2: Going to hospital (PDF 3MB)
• Easy read 3: At the hospital (PDF 3MB)
• Easy read 4: Going home after hospital (PDF 3MB)

Disability Health Profile form

This form lets you provide your disability information to the hospital.  You or someone you choose can fill in this form and take it with you when you go to hospital.

• Disability Health Profile Form (PDF 240KB).

Guides and resources for people with disability

• The National Disability Services Ready to Go Home Resources (external site)
• Support for someone with a cognitive impairment or intellectual disability: Health Care for people who need extra support (external site)
• Checklist to help people understand your needs if you have COVID: COVID-19 Caring for People with Disability (PDF 216KB).
• Supported decision making with people with disability: Deciding With Support – Holistic supported decision making toolkit designed for people with disability, supporters, practitioners and service providers. (external site)
• My Health Matters is an Easy Read folder made to improve communication between people with an intellectual disability, supporters and health workers: My Health Matters folder - Council for Intellectual Disability (external site)
• The My Health Worker Guide is for people with intellectual disability to get to know names of different health workers and what they do: My Health Worker Guide - Council for Intellectual Disability (external site)
• The Aboriginal Health Worker Guide is for First Nations people with intellectual disability and their supporters to learn about Aboriginal Health Workers and what they do: Aboriginal Health Worker Guide - Easy Read - Council for Intellectual Disability (external site)
• More resources for people with intellectual disability: Resources about intellectual disability - Council for Intellectual Disability (external site).

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This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Information about a service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace professional advice. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified professional for answers to their questions.