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NEW STUDY FOCUSES ON DISABLED
Not surprisingly, individuals with developmental disabilities share the same obstacles as others in underserved populations when it comes to obtaining quality oral health care. Their unique oral health concerns and the most effective ways to meet their needs are the subjects of a new study by Roseann Mulligan, associate dean for community health programs, in a joint project with Janet Schneiderman of USC's School of Social Work.
The Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health in America found that people with developmental disabilities—including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Downs's syndrome and seizure disorders—had much higher rates of oral hygiene problems than the general public. In addition to their impaired abilities to perform preventative maintenance, people with disabilities also have limited access to dental care services resulting from difficulty finding dental providers trained to care for those with special needs.
In conjunction with the nearby South Central Los Angeles Regional Center, Mulligan, Schneiderman and their research teams will develop and test a model that will assess the oral health care issues of those with developmental disabilities. Additionally, the model will include a referral component, as well as provide for adequate follow-up and case management. Once researchers develop a model, the team anticipates expanding it to all seven regional centers throughout Los Angeles.
Their work recently received $40,000 in seed money from the USC Urban Initiative, the largest amount awarded to a recipient this year. The initiative—
part of the university's 1994 strategic plan—awards interdisciplinary programs that enhance USC's reputation as a leader on urban issues.
Mulligan hopes the study will build upon the work started through the special patient clinic here at USC. "We have expanded that clinic to work with special needs clients under general anesthesia, but we need to increase that capacity," she says. "Since this is an area of service that not very many people are providing, it is an opportunity for us to help this very underserved population."
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