Consumer-Professional Partnership Program (CPPP) Link to CPPP teaching Presentations
CPPP Manual available now!

The CPPP is a consumer-directed education program for health care professionals and students of the health professions. It is a flexible educational approach to strengthen the role of consumer teaching in academic and medical environments. more

Many people with disabilities feel that health care providers do not have sufficient information about what it means to live with a disability. Comments like "my doctor does not really understand what it takes me to transfer to his exam table" or "they do not really communicate with me" are fairly common. At the same time, many physicians and health care professionals feel pressured for time, and do not understand why their best efforts are not more appreciated by people with disabilities. The CPPP seeks to improve the dialog between consumers with disabilities and health care professionals. more

We are implementing the program gradually over the next four years. The pilot-program is being developed and tested in Washington, D.C. at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH). more

Both Modules 1 & 2 of the CPPP Manual are now available!!! Module 1 discusses disability awareness and competence. It teaches about models of disability, barriers for people with disabilities, and communicating with people with disabilities. Module 2 turns the focus to factors influencing the prevention of secondary conditions in SCI.

Feel free to use our CPPP Manual, and Modules 1 & 2 as resources for educating current and future health care professionals about providing care to people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. PowerPoint slides for each separate talk of each module compliment the manual and can serve as sample presentations for teaching and training purposes.

A short introduction to the CPPP follows:
Consumer Professional Partnership Program: A Short Introduction (pdf)
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Module 1: Disability Awareness and Competence (pdf)
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    Talk 1.1: Introducing the Social Model of Disability (ppt)
    Talk 1.2: Barriers for People with Disabilities (ppt)
    Talk 1.3: Communicating with People with Disabilities (ppt)

Module 2: Prevention of Secondary Conditions(pdf)
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    Talk 2.1: Quick Facts (ppt)
    Talk 2.2: Anatomy & Physiology (ppt)

We'd appreciate your feedback!

Download our program brochure here. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

To see a visual representation of the talks included in the CPPP, click here. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

If you have Windows Media Player or Real Player installed on your computer watch our program video.

*Video coming soon!*

For more information, please contact

Suzanne L. Groah, MD 202-877-1196 or by e-mail Suzanne.L.Groah@medstar.net