Welcome to the Peer Screening Squad! Check out the Colon Cancer Screening Toolkit, videos, and resources about colonoscopies and screenings for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism.
Colon Cancer Screening Toolkit and Videos
The toolkit and videos were made for and by self-advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their supporters. It is designed to help you learn about colon cancer, colon cancer screenings, colonoscopies, and the importance of early detection. Inside the toolkit, and on the page below, you’ll find short videos, real experiences, frequently asked questions, a dictionary of key terms, and additional resources to help you learn more about colon cancer screening and early detection.
We want to thank the Special Olympics Systems Change for Inclusive Health Subgrant for funding the creation of these resources, to educate people with disabilities and their supporters about the importance of colon cancer screenings and early detection.
Funding Acknowledgement: Our work is supported in part by the Special Olympics Systems Change for Inclusive Health Subgrant, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The contents of this project are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Importance of Health Screenings for Self-Advocates with I/DD
Why are health screenings important, and why does it matter for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to have health information they can understand and use?
In this interview-style Peer Screening Squad video, MASS self-advocates Al Milne, Daysiree Perez-Batista, and Steven Tobey talk about health screenings, self-advocacy, accessible health education, and the importance of taking an active role in your own healthcare. The video also highlights an important idea behind the Peer Screening Squad project: health information can be especially meaningful when people with disabilities hear directly from other self-advocates who understand their experiences.
Al’s Colonoscopy Story for People with I/DD
What is it really like to prepare for and have a colonoscopy?
In this animated Peer Screening Squad video, Al, a self-advocate, shares his real experience getting a colonoscopy. His story was created to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Special Olympics athletes, learn what a colonoscopy may be like through the experience of a peer.
Pauline’s Colon Cancer Screening Story
In this animated Peer Screening Squad video, Pauline, a self-advocate, shares her real experiences with colonoscopies and an at-home colon cancer screening test. Her story was created to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Special Olympics athletes, learn about screening through the lived experience of a peer.
Pauline decided to learn more about her colon health after her mother died from an intestinal blockage. Her experience shows why everyone's screening journey can be different. Different people may have different preparation instructions, support needs, screening tests, doctors, or healthcare settings.
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