📊 Key Fact
👉 Adults with disabilities are more likely to smoke than those without
- Around 18%–28% of adults with disabilities smoke
- Around 11%–13% of adults without disabilities smoke
👉 This is a health inequality
⚠️ Why Are Rates Higher?
🧠 Mental Health & Stress
People may experience:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
👉 Smoking can feel like a way to cope
🧍 Social Factors
- Loneliness
- Isolation
- Fewer support networks
👉 Smoking may become part of daily routine
💰 Financial Barriers
- Less access to services
- Cost of travel
- Limited resources
👉 Harder to get help
🚫 Barriers to Quitting
Some people may struggle because:
- Services are not accessible
- Information is not clear
- Support is not adapted
🧪 Addiction
- Nicotine is addictive
- Some people become more dependent
- May smoke more often
🩺 Impact on Health
Smoking increases the risk of:
- Cancer
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Breathing problems
👉 It can also make existing conditions worse
❤️ Important Positive Message
👉 Many people with disabilities want to stop smoking
👉 Motivation is often high
🧑⚕️ What Support Should Look Like
✅ Accessible Support
- Easy Read information
- Clear communication
- Step-by-step guidance
🏠 Flexible Support
- Home-based support
- Online or digital services
- Community-based help
🤝 Person-Centred Support
- Respect the person’s choice
- Understand their reasons
- Do not judge
⚠️ What Not to Do
❌ Do not blame
❌ Do not pressure
❌ Do not assume
👉 These can increase stress and make things worse
✅ What To Do Instead
✔️ Offer support
✔️ Listen
✔️ Build trust
✔️ Be patient
🧠 Key Training Message
👉 “Higher smoking rates are not about poor choices
They are often linked to inequality, stress, and lack of support”
🎭 Case Studies
Case 1: Barriers to Support
A patient:
- Uses a wheelchair
- Cannot access a stop smoking clinic
👉 Result:
- No support given
💡 Learning:
- Services must be accessible
Case 2: Emotional Coping
A person:
- Has anxiety
- Uses smoking to cope
👉 Learning:
- Address emotional needs, not just behaviour
Case 3: Positive Support
A service:
- Offers Easy Read
- Provides online sessions
👉 Result:
- More people engage
🧩 Activities
✏️ Activity 1: Understanding Inequality
👉 Question:
Why might someone find it harder to stop smoking?
🧠 Activity 2: Scenario
A patient says:
“I want to stop, but I can’t”
👉 What would you do?
🎭 Activity 3: Role Play
- Practice supportive conversation
- Avoid pressure
❓ Quiz
1. Do people with disabilities smoke more often?
a) No
b) Yes
c) Sometimes
2. Why might quitting be harder?
a) No reason
b) Barriers and stress
c) Choice only
3. What should professionals do?
a) Judge
b) Support
c) Ignore
✅ Answers
- b
- b
- b
📊 PowerPoint Slides
- Smoking and disability
- Key statistics
- Why rates are higher
- Mental health link
- Barriers to quitting
- Health impact
- Positive message
- Support approaches
- Case studies
- Key message
📄 Workbook Section
Reflection
- Why is this a health inequality?
- How can services improve access?
Scenario Task
A person:
- Wants to stop smoking
- Has no transport
👉 How can you support them?
🌟 Strong Message for Your Book
👉 “Health behaviours do not happen in isolation.
They are shaped by stress, environment, and access to support.”
❤️ Final Thought (Your Voice Strengthened)
What you said earlier fits perfectly here:
👉 People are often judged without understanding their situation
👉 But:
- Not everyone copes the same
- Not everyone has the same support
- Not everyone finds change easy
🧑⚕️ Professional Responsibility
- Offer support
- Provide access
- Communicate clearly
- Respect choice
👉 That is good practice
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