Initially the location of the care needs to be accessible to the client to get their care needs treated. The building and services provided must be able to accommodate anyone with any sort of disability. The client may also need transportation to said health care location. Medical equipment must be able to accommodate the clients disabilities as well. The care team must be able to communicate as well which may be a challenge if the client can’t hear or see.  

We should prioritize education on disability awareness which allows for care team members to get more familiar with how to care for these individuals as people. It is important to actively engage with each patient to understand their needs and avoid making assumptions. Health care providers should utilize assistive communication tools to accommodate these patients. It is crucial to create a supportive environment that respects each and every person who comes through their door and listens and respects each individual’s abilities and preferences.

Providers may lack the knowledge, experience, and skills to care for people with disabilities. There are common attitudinal barriers which affect the delivery of care to clients with disabilities. These barriers include viewing the disability as an illness, having a lack of knowledge, fear of harming the patient, and misconceptions.Some providers may view a disability as an abnormality that needs to be fixed, rather than a natural part of a person’s life.

Something I never really considered before about patients with disabilities is all the extra thought and planning which goes into receiving the care they need. It’s about having to call the day before to ensure you can get an accessible room. It never even crossed my mind about how online pre screening forms can easily be inaccessible to so many.