Technical Expert Group for WHO Global Health Policy and Systems Research Agenda on Disability Health Equity (2026 - 2030)

I am one of 25 people across the world who have been selected by the World Health Organization to be a member of the Technical Expert Group for WHO Global Health Policy and Systems Research Agenda on Disability Health Equity (2026 - 2030). What an honour.

Objectives of the Global Research Agenda
Overall Goal: The WHO Global Research Agenda will guide research that generates the evidence policymakers need to reduce health inequities experienced by persons with disabilities.  

1. Define the key knowledge gaps and research areas for evidence generation on health equity for persons with disabilities at a global level over the next five years (from 2026 – 2030).
2. Strengthen knowledge production for evidence-informed policies, plans and practices relating to disability inclusion in health systems strengthening and primary health care.
3. Build research capacity on health equity for persons with disabilities by creating a framework for research priorities to be applied and further contextualized at the regional and national levels.

Background

Persons with disabilities – an estimated 16% of the global population – experience health inequities, as they die up to 20 years earlier and have poorer health compared to persons without disabilities, due to unjust or unfair conditions at all levels of health systems and society. The WHO Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities calls on policymakers to take action on disability inclusion in health systems strengthening efforts at country level, including by establishing national agendas for health policy and systems research.i
Health policy and systems research seeks “to understand and improve how societies organize themselves in achieving collective health goals, and how different actors interact in the policy and implementation processes to contribute to policy outcomes”.ii Health policy and systems research on disability health equity would explore a wide range of system-level questions − from financing to governance, through to issues surrounding the implementation of services and delivery of care, to the role of social determinants of health and the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders across sectors. Such research is crucial for policymakers to make informed decisions about which actions will contribute to the realization of universal health coverage (UHC), and to the smooth coordination between sectors, when advancing health equity for persons with disabilities.iii
There is currently no global health policy and system research agenda on health equity for persons with disabilities, but there is a growing need and demand for such a resource and approach. The World Health Assembly Resolution 74.8 on the “Highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities” requested WHO to support Member States with "the creation of a global research agenda that aligns with UHC, health emergencies and health and well-being, including health systems and policy research”.iv

Expert Panel - PwC Disability Loading Review - Final meeting

Over the past 2 years I have been an invited member of the Expert Panel for the Federal Government's Disability Loading Review run by PwC. This is our 5th meeting - and each meeting has been rigorous and extensive lasting many hours. Today the final results were presented based on the data collection (e.g., regression approach that considered data from 14,196 students). The data were really compelling. We have confidentiality agreements - so are unable to discuss/share the findings. I really hope that the government takes these findings seriously.

PwC Expert Advisory Panel

Today the PwC Expert Advisory Panel met to plan for the last steps of this two year project to inform the Australian Government about funding for students with disabilities across all educational sectors. The project has four steps: 1. Evidence - literature review 2. Good practice school survey 3. Regression analysis of sector and school survey results to cost support for students with disability 4. Professional judgement of 40 case studies, then a Delphi approach to come to consensus about costs for reasonable and better practice adjustments (June - July 2022). My contribution will conclude in September 2022 at the final meeting.

Expert Panel Meeting 3: Students with Disability Loading Settings Review

Today was the third (of 5) Expert Panel Meeting for the Australian Government's Department of Education, Skills and Employment Students with Disability Loading Settings Review. It has been an honour to contribute to this expert panel.

Good Practice Schools Framework

I am an invited member of the Students With Disability Loading Review Expert Panel coordinated by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the Australian Government. We met today to discuss the draft Good Practice Schools Framework and Cost Framework. It is an honour to have an input into this work, and to hear of the importance of speech pathologists in schools from across the sector nationally.

World Health Organization International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) beta tester

I have volunteered to be a World Health Organization International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) beta tester and today we had our online briefing/training session from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Recently I finished a 2-stage review as a member of a Delphi panel for the World Health Organization Rehabilitation Competency Framework where there were many opportunities to provide a non-medical perspective about communication.

Many years ago, I provided feedback on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) and my contribution is acknowledged in the opening pages. 

I believe it is important to provide insight from the perspective of a speech-language pathologist into  WHO's development of classification systems.

World Health Organization Rehabilitation Competency Framework Delphi Panel

I have just completed stage 2 providing comments on the World Health Organization Rehabilitation Competency Framework as part of their Delphi Panel. It has been a privilege to represent the perspectives of people with communication disability and communication specialists (including speech-language pathologists).

Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5 Australian and New Zealand version

The Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals Australian and New Zealand Fifth Edition (CELF-5 A&NZ) has been launched at the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference. This is the first time this assessment has been normed for our countries. I was one of eight people on the CELF-5 A&NZ Review Panel (along with Liz Fairgray, NZ; Prof Gail Gillon, NZ; Liselaine Hemmingway, Dr Suze Leitao, Melissa Lovell, Barbara Lyndon and Prof Pam Snow). This assessment will be used widely across Australia.

Sharynne and Nicole McGill with the CELF-5 A&NZ

Pearson's account of the development of the CELF-5 A&NZ is here

Speech Pathology in Schools Resource Project

I am a member of the Expert Advisory Group for the NSW Department of Education Speech Pathology in Schools Project being run by Speech Pathology Australia. The website outlining the project has just been launched here.
The website states:

The purpose of the kit is to provide:

•  information to principals, teachers, parents and speech pathologists about best practice speech pathology in an educational setting.
• support to encourage more schools in NSW to engage (either employ or contract) speech pathologists to work in their schools.
• advice regarding how speech pathologists working collaboratively in schools can improve student learning outcomes and wellbeing.