Teens With Autism Educate Future Doctors At Boston University

BOSTON (CBS) – It’s a unique medical school class designed to increase awareness of patients with autism and other intellectual disabilities. And today’s teachers were two teenagers, both on the autism spectrum. “I’m 13 years old. I’m in eighth grade. I really, really like otters, and I have ADHD and a tiny bit of autism,” says Hana. She and her 15-year-old sister Helen have come to a Boston University Medical School classroom to talk with third year students. Both girls are on the autism spectrum, and are ready for any and all questions. “Anything! I’m not going to be upset,” Helen says. Hana (L) and Helen (R) speak to Boston University medical students (WBZ-TV) It’s part of an innovative program developed by the Arc of Massachusetts called Operation House Call. “This is huge. This means they’re really seeing our patients as people, and not just a diagnosis,” says Maura Sullivan who runs the Arc program. “We teach medical students how to enhance care for people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities,” she says. That’s important because for some people with disabilities, even finding a doctor is difficult. This program aims to break down that barrier by teaching future doctors to get to know their special patients and find ways to reach and treat them. Boston University medical students (WBZ-TV) “It’s important that people who are goin...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Boston News Health Syndicated Local Watch Listen Autism Boston University School Of Medicine Paula Ebben Source Type: news