The purpose of this community-based participatory research project is to study the process and outcomes of designing and piloting a disability/Deaf-community-led training program for interdisciplinary workers at the nonprofit organization “AVI Health and Community Services” (formerly AIDS Vancouver Island). This study has 4 main objectives:

1. To facilitate the design and pilot implementation of a disability/Deaf-community-led training program for services workers at an HIV and harm reduction nonprofit on topics that the disability and Deaf community prioritizes and that benefits the community.

2. To examine the program from the perspectives of participating disability/Deaf community members and trainees regarding satisfaction with the pilot program, learning experiences, challenges, power dynamics, and perceptions of outcomes.

3. To measure changes in knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes among trainees before and after participating in the pilot program.

4. To evaluate the impact, barriers, limitations, and strengths of this pilot program, as well as the potential benefits/disadvantages and feasibility of implementing similar programs at other non-profit organizations in Canada.

Partners: AVI Health and Community Services

Methods: Mixed Methods: Community-Based Participatory Approaches

Funder: SSHRC

Current Status: Project planning ongoing.