WITH Foundation Grant Boosts UK’s Efforts in Enhancing Health Literacy Through Graphic Medicine

Enhancing Health Literacy Through Graphic Medicine: a Grant From WITH Foundation Supports UK’s Efforts

LEXINGTON,Ky.: A Game-changer for Graphic Medicine

On July 12, 2024, a grant, awarded by the WITH Foundation, has created an exciting opportunity for the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute (HDI) to contribute significantly to the burgeoning field of graphic medicine.

Graphic Medicine: The Intersection of Art and Medicine

The Program Coordinator for HDI’s College and Career Studies Program, Erin Fitzgerald, described graphic medicine as a unique blend of visual art forms, chiefly comics, and illustrations, with the medical and health sectors. While comics are a prevalent medium in this sphere, various other visual mediums are also used to convey complex healthcare information.

Graphic medicine can break down hierarchical barriers that often exist within medical spheres between doctors and patients, promoting greater understanding of health and illness narratives. The materials created in this format aim to be accessible and straightforward, adhering to the principles of universal design.

Fostering Inclusion and Facilitating Understanding

With this generous financial backing from the WITH Foundation, HDI is aspiring to expand their repository of graphic medicine resources. The WITH Foundation is an organization committed to promoting comprehensive healthcare designed to meet the needs of adults with developmental disabilities.

HDI’s plan includes curating existing graphic medicine resources and creating fresh ones. “Every material will entail a team featuring an individual with a disability, who will collaborate with one of our project team members and a graphic artist,” said Laura Butler, the Project Director. “The aim is to bring the comic medicine piece to life.”

Lived Experience: Driving Innovation in Healthcare

Key members for the various project teams will be identified as the project progresses, promoting a fluid space for creative innovation. The focus is on employing the stories of lived experiences to tackle healthcare access barriers and encourage both patients and healthcare professionals to better understand the processes and experiences.

The WITH Foundation and HDI have previously collaborated on creating a comic that vividly explained how blood is drawn. Looking back, Butler views that work as an exemplar of graphic medicine.

Coming Attractions: Attending to What Really Matters

Although specific materials for the grant-assisted project have not been decided yet, both Butler and Fitzgerald are thrilled about the potential to eliminate barriers that prevent adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities from accessing high-quality healthcare.

“Too many people have unsettling narratives about their healthcare experiences,” explains Butler. “Any effort to make the process better is undoubtedly welcomed. The desire is that these visual interpretations can make the process less daunting and less confusing.”

Indeed, such initiatives could be essential in changing the narrative and putting those living with disabilities at the center of solutions. Fitzgerald argues that too often the healthcare challenges faced by those with disabilities are overlooked—this project aims to change this.

Highlighting the importance of this project, Fitzgerald says, “It is incredibly rare for individuals with disabilities to be invited to participate in such initiatives, especially as equal partners and consultants.”