N.S., Dalhousie create disability support outreach team

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

The provincial government has announced a partnership with Dalhousie University to create a disability support outreach team to provide services in the central region, which includes the Halifax area.

The multidisciplinary support team, made up of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, dietitians, and more, will provide a “broad range” of services, including health assessments, skill development and education, according to the government.

“I’m excited about this partnership with Dalhousie University and the opportunity it creates to connect education, training and care,” said Minister Susan Corkum-Greek. “By creating more opportunities for practicum placements, training and research, we are helping future health professionals better understand how to support persons with disabilities in a way that respects their rights and dignity.”

The province says establishing the health teams supports a key direction from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Remedy.

Teams are being created to serve four regions of Nova Scotia. A team in the western region is already providing service, and planning is underway for teams in eastern and northern Nova Scotia.

“By bringing our existing clinic together with provincially funded interprofessional health services, we are expanding access to co-ordinated, person-centred care while deepening hands-on learning opportunities for students across health disciplines, strengthening both our communities and the next generation of health professionals,” Brenda Merritt, Dean, Dalhousie Faculty of Health, said in the release.