HEALTH ADVOCACY
Health Action Now!
It is time to make health services better for people with intellectual disability.
The Health Action Now! campaign highlights the very real need to make health services better for people with intellectual disability.
We call on the political parties in South Australia to commit to strong action and real change in the upcoming election.
Why it matters
People with intellectual disability are dying 27 years younger than other people.
South Australians with intellectual disability are twice as likely to die of avoidable causes.
People with intellectual disability are 4 times as likely to be in hospital for preventable causes.
The Disability Royal Commission found ongoing “systemic neglect” of people with intellectual disability in the health system.
This must change.
We need Health Action Now!
Watch this video to learn more about how people with intellectual disability can feel when they are in hospital or getting medical support.
The asks
We call on the political parties in South Australia to commit to:
Ask 1 – Intellectual disability awareness training.
Fund intellectual disability awareness training for all people working in the health sector.
This training must be co-designed and co-facilitated by a person with intellectual disability.
“We know what works best for us and we should be involved in all training”
“Doctors should talk to us first before our support people.
How do you know what I know if you don’t ask me.”
Watch this video to learn what people with intellectual disability wished hospital staff knew.
Ask 2 – More funding for SAIDHS specialist services and training.
SAIDHS is a state-wide specialised consultancy health service funded by SA Health.
SAIDHS is the South Australian Intellectual Disability Health Service.
The service is currently heavily restricted to people with intellectual disability and complex medical needs.
Many more people with intellectual disability would benefit from early specialist input but for this to happen SAIDHS needs more government funding.
SAIDHS sets a high standard for health services for people with intellectual disability.
Funding SAIDHS services more widely including their ability to provide training and build the capacity of other primary health care staff is vital.
“I like that I can have longer appointments and don’t need to stay in the doctor’s room while I see my doctor. It would be good if I could do this with my regular doctor.”
Watch this video to hear what people with intellectual disability have to say about the need for appropriately funded specialist services.
Ask 3 – Accessible health information.
More accessible health and medical information needs to be developed and used.
Funding a place to keep this information for both the public and health care staff to use is also needed.
Accessible health information could look like
- Easy Read information
- Plain English
- Communication boards
- Picture based charts, tests and posters
Access to information in accessible formats is a human right (UNCRPD Article 21).
People with intellectual disability are able to be part of, and understand, health services and their treatments when information is delivered in an accessible way.
Healthcare staff report that when accessible information is available it makes communication better, saves time and reduces misunderstandings that can lead to people ending up in hospital.
“Having larger rooms and equipment to help describe my issues, such as body and pain charts is really helpful”
Watch this video to hear what people with intellectual disability have to say about the need for health information that is easier to use and understand.
How you can help
People with intellectual disability deserve better healthcare.
Together we can take action.
You can add your voice to the campaign to help make change.
You can:
Read and share our Open Letter.
The Open Letter has the Health Action Now! Campaign information and the calls to action.
Read the letter and share it with others to support the campaign.
You could send it to your local Member of Parliament.
Contact your local member of parliament.
Write to them or visit them in person.
Demand better health services for people with intellectual disability.
You could send them the Health Action Now! Open Letter.
You could share your story of accessing health services and tell them why it must be better.
Tell others.
Share our campaign on social media.
The campaign will be shared on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Share your story with us.
Do you have a story about intellectual disability healthcare that you would like to share with SACID to support this campaign?
We would love to hear from you.
You can choose how we use your story.
You might like to be in a video.
You might like us to share your story without using your name.
You might like to come and speak to politicians about your experiences.
Fill out the form below and a member of the SACID team will contact you about your story early 2026.
If you do not want to write your message leave a phone number and we can call you.
What happens next
Keep checking in here and on social media.
The Health Action Now! Campaign will launch:
- Videos
- Easy Read information
- Progress updates