PHT 206: Understanding Disability and Best Practices for Communicating a Diagnosis

Course Sponsored by: Lettercase National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute

We have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

The overarching purpose is to give genetic counselors tools to assess the administration of genetic screening and testing in the context of the disability rights movement, to recognize what constitutes balanced information, and to promote culturally competent practice as well as client-centered, informed, non- coercive and value-based decision-making.

The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) has authorized Lettercase National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources  to offer up to 0.5 CEUs or 5 Category 1 contact hours for the activity Understanding Disability and Best Practices for Communicating a Diagnosis.The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) will accept CEUs earned at this program for the purposes of genetic counselor certification and recertification. These objectives map to the Accreditation Council of Genetic Counseling (ACGC) Practiced Based Competencies 2a, 11a &b, 13a) (2019), as well as the NSGC Code of Ethics (I1, II4&5, IV4) (2017).

Learning Objectives

  1. Examine how the basic history of disability rights has impacted life outcomes for people with disabilities and the importance of recognizing current supports, services, and life outcomes when communicating about prenatal screening and testing for genetic conditions.
  2. Critically assess policies and practices that impact the provision of genetic information at the moment of diagnosis of a genetic condition.
  3. Define best practices for discussing prenatal screening and testing and delivering a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome with accuracy, sensitivity, and cultural awareness.

This course was developed by

  • Dr. Harold Kleinert, EdD
  • Stephanie Meredith, MA
  • Supervisor: Angela Trepanier, MS, CGC

Course Support

Support is available by clicking Contact Us on any page within the course.

PHT 201: Medical Professionals: Improving the Prenatal Diagnosis Experience and Long-Term Patient Outcomes with Accurate, Up-to-Date, and Balanced Information about Genetic Conditions

This course is for medical and genetics professionals and students to better understand the outcomes for people with Down syndrome and other genetic conditions as impacted by improved access to supports and services over the past 50 years. This course also covers the information needs of expectant parents following a prenatal diagnosis and the laws impacting the provision of that information. This course includes videos, a podcast about the basic history of disability rights, quizzes, reflection questions, and the capacity for professors to assign the course to their medical students as a lecture and get a report of results from the assignments and activities. Please email Stephanie Meredith for more details about setting up the lecture for your class.

Target Audience: Medical and genetics professionals and students

Hours: 1.5

Objectives

  1. Examine how the basic history of disability rights has impacted life outcomes for people with different genetic conditions.
  2. For patients learning about a prenatal and postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, compare the information priorities identified by genetic counselors and the parents of people with Down syndrome.
  3. Define the basic phenotype of people with Down syndrome.
  4. Identify how outcomes in various aspects of life, including health, educational, and social aspects, have improved over the past 50 years for people with Down syndrome and other chromosome conditions.
  5. Summarize the values of stakeholders who might be involved in communicating about a diagnosis of Down syndrome, including patients, medical professionals, and the disability community.
  6. Indicate resources you can use to discuss a diagnosis of Down syndrome and other genetic conditions.

Course Support

Use the Contact US button at the bottom of every page in the course