Young disabled people from Bristol are set to help the next generation of doctors get better at communicating with people as part of a week-long course for medical students at the University of Bristol.

The young adults, members of local buddying service Young and Free, are leading sessions on communication skills for medical students at the University of Bristol as part of 3D week which focuses on disability, disadvantage and diversity.

Coping with a range of physical and sensory difficulties means the young people are uniquely placed to advise on their experience of local health services.

Ligia Farrow of Young and Free said: "Disabled young people have a lot to say about how doctors and other medical professionals can better speak to them and understand their needs.  These workshops will give them the opportunity to have their voices heard by the very people who can really make a difference."

The disability week was originally set up by Dr Margaret Byron several years ago to highlight the importance of equality.  Dr Jo Brooks, Dr Byron's successor, has developed the course to involve 3Ds, that is, Disadvantage and Diversity in addition to Disability. 

Dr Jo Brooks, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Bristol and organiser of 3D, said: "We want these students to learn about the importance of patient participation through partnership working - but rather than simply telling them they need to be working in partnership with people with impairments, we're actually modelling it."

"Learning on the job is also a much more powerful motivation to learn and change than just hearing about other people's experiences," she added.

Throughout the week the student doctors, most in their early twenties, will also learn about global health issues (disadvantage), how to communicate with people with various difficulties, such as those with learning disabilities, and from different cultures (diversity), visit an organisation like Riding for the Disabled, and give presentations on issues they have learned to their tutors, all of whom are professionals with impairments.

The 3D week is compulsory for all the second year medics at Bristol, running from Tuesday 20 - Friday 23 April and is repeated the following week.