What Is My Health My Choice?

My Health, My Choice is a culturally respectful health education program developed

through a partnership between Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the University of

Arizona (UA), with support from the American Cancer Society. The program’s trained

health educators work closely with Native American women with intellectual and/or

developmental disabilities (IDD) and their caregivers to promote cancer screening and

preventive health. The program is currently delivered in collaboration with the Tucson

Indian Center and Hopi Cancer Support Services.

Why It Matters

Being a healthy woman means staying up to date on recommended health

screenings—such as breast and cervical cancer screenings—and understanding how to

advocate for your own care. The My Health, My Choice program is offered by a trained

health educator, either in person or via Zoom (with in-person sessions encouraged to

enhance engagement and connection).

The program includes six interactive sessions filled with fun activities and practical

information. Caregivers and supporters are welcome to join, but the focus is on

empowering women with IDD to feel confident and capable in making their own health

choices.

The curriculum helps participants:

  • Build self-confidence

  • Understand the importance of preventive health screenings

  • Practice effective communication with healthcare providers

MHMC Learning Objectives

MHMC helps participants build skills and knowledge to support long-term health through:

  • Identify healthy lifestyle habits for women.

  • Practice ways to manage anxiety about cancer screenings.

  • Understand what cancer is and the body parts screened.

  • Discover the importance of breast cancer screening.

  • Learn about cervical cancer screening and its importance.

  • Practice self-advocacy to communicate with health care providers confidently

Session Snapshot

FAQ & Accessibility

  • Native American women with I/DD who are interested in learning more about health and cancer preventive care. Caregivers are welcome.

  • Sessions are designed to be short and engaging (typically 45-60 minutes).

  • Yes – all materials use plain language, visual supports, and include opportunities for practice and repetition.

Supported by a Cancer Health Equity Center-MSI Grant # CHERC-MSI-22-283-01CHERC-MSI from the American Cancer Society.