A new initiative aims to improve accessibility for autistic women to receive life-saving mammograms, amid a gap in screening rates for this population.
One in forty Australians are diagnosed autistic, and yet, autistic individuals often encounter significant barriers to accessing healthcare, which leads to poorer health outcomes and higher rates of untreated medical conditions.
Research has shown challenges include difficulty in recognising symptoms, communication barriers with healthcare professionals and overwhelming sensory environments such as waiting rooms.
When it comes to breast screening, additional concerns include fear of the procedure itself, difficulty understanding the importance of mammograms, lack of accessible information and sensory sensitivities in medical environments.
“Almost 50 percent of NSW women aged 50-74 have not had their recommended breast screen in the past two years, and for Autistic women, the numbers are likely to be even lower,” said Dr Tutton, the Executive Manager of Aspect Autism Friendly.
As part of a new initiative, Aspect Autism Friendly partnered with BreastScreen NSW to conduct a comprehensive review of two screening sites in South Western Sydney, a clinic and a mobile screening unit, as well as the online booking process.
The assessment identified key barriers and resulted in a number of recommendations to help Autistic women feel more confident and supported when booking and attending their appointments.
It’s recommended for healthcare providers to enhance their online booking systems to include text-based options for individuals who find phone calls challenging.
Providing clear, accessible pre-visit information is also important, such as a step-by-step visual guide of the screening process.
The review recommends as well for providers to create quieter waiting areas, offer flexible appointment times and train healthcare staff to improve communication and understanding of autism-specific needs.
“We recognise that some communities require greater support to access healthcare,” said Mandy Williams, Director Population Health, South Western Sydney Local Health District.
“By working with Aspect Autism Friendly, BreastScreen NSW, South Western Sydney, are making meaningful changes to improve the experience for Autistic women. These include physical and environmental adjustments, visual stories as part of the pre-screening process, and comprehensive staff training to better understand autism and communicate effectively with neuro-divergent women.”
Working in Partnership Senior Officer at Aspect and Autistic mother of two, Ainslie Robinson recently walked through the screening process in Liverpool and praised the initiative.
“I’m so thrilled to be part of this vital work with BreastScreen NSW and applaud the team for their commitment to creating autism-friendly screening services,” Robinson said.
“Healthcare can be daunting for many Autistic people, especially when it involves medical equipment and close interaction with staff. Simple adjustments to the booking process and clinical environment can make all the difference—and in this case, could save lives.”