Discussing disability in medical appointments: Tips and more

For people with disabilities, equal access to care may mean improving accessibility, providing accommodations, or stopping discrimination.

Read on to learn more about what improving these experiences in medical appointments looks like, why it is necessary, and more.

However, despite improvements over the years, it can still be difficult for people with disabilities to find high quality healthcare.

This is proven in research involving both health professionals and patients. For example, a 2025 study found that people with disabilities reported worse satisfaction with healthcare services than those without disabilities. Overall, the data suggested that doctors:

• spent inadequate time with them
• listened less carefully to them
• explained things less clearly
• treated them less respectfully

Meanwhile, a 2022 survey found that only 40.7% of doctors felt very confident they could provide care of equal quality to those with impairments, and only 56.5% strongly agreed that they welcomed disabled people to their practice.

In the same survey, 18.1% strongly agreed that the healthcare system frequently treats people with disabilities unfairly.

Depending on the individual, a person with disabilities may experience barriers to healthcare such as:

Healthcare facilities can be physically difficult to get to or move around. They may have:

• a lack of nearby public transport
• insufficient disabled parking spots near the entrance
• steep steps or curbs
• no ramps for wheelchairs
• narrow doors and entryways
• narrow or cluttered corridors
• a lack of restrooms that can accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility aids

There can also be physical accessibility issues inside the doctor’s office or when getting medical tests and procedures. For example, they may have:

• non-adjustable examination tables
• equipment that requires a person to stand, such as mammography machines
• no scales or other equipment for people using wheelchairs
• rooms that are too small for people to maneuver around

For some, a key barrier in medical appointments is communication.

Those who are Deaf, autistic, have learning disabilities, or have other conditions may need extra help communicating, understanding, or remembering health information.

• health professionals do not look directly at the patient when talking
• the facility has no sign language interpreter
• the consultation room is noisy or hectic
• written information is small and difficult to read
• people talk in long sentences or use very technical language

Communication barriers can have various negative effects, ranging from stress and anxiety to mistakes or difficulty getting medical attention.

However, they may also need more healthcare services, particularly if they have chronic conditions or use medications.

This combination of factors can make healthcare more expensive and, in some cases, unaffordable.

Ableism refers to discrimination or prejudice based on disability. It is rooted in harmful beliefs about disabled people, such as that they are:

• unhealthy
• lazy
• incompetent
• less valuable
• childlike
• innocent
• unintelligent
• deceptive, potentially lying about their impairment to claim special treatment

There are many ways these attitudes can manifest in healthcare. A person with ableist beliefs may:

• patronize or talk down to disabled people
• only address their companion or caregiver
• not listen to or believe them
• not give them valuable health information, such as sex education
• treat them with less friendliness or respect than other patients
• express sadness or pity towards disabled people, regardless of their own feelings or situation
• touch or move them without their consent

These barriers can include laws, policies, and systems that affect disabled people, or a lack of awareness about disability rights.

For example, a healthcare facility may:

• deny disabled people access to services, programs, or benefits they are eligible for
• have policies that disproportionately affect disabled people, such as limits on disabled parking or short appointment times
• not understand disability accommodations or refuse to make them

Because of the barriers in healthcare, people with disabilities may experience avoidable health disparities.

However, these disparities are preventable. Healthcare professionals and organizations can improve health accessibility for disabled people by implementing:

Universal design is an approach to designing streets, buildings, and equipment that allows as many people as possible to use them, no matter their age, height, or abilities.

Universal design does not just benefit those with disabilities, but a wide array of people, from adults pushing baby strollers to children and people recovering from surgery.

Some examples of universal design include:

• doors that open automatically
• ergonomic handles that allow people to grip them easily
• sloped curbs and ramps that allow wheelchair access
• counters with varying heights
• readable signs that include pictures or symbols, so anyone can understand them

People with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations in the United States.

“Reasonable accommodations” are changes people can make to increase accessibility without causing “undue hardship”, such as significant difficulty or expense. In healthcare, this could involve:

• using their preferred contact method, such as via email, voicemail, or a caregiver
• providing sign language interpreters
• providing medical information in braille, large print, or audio format
• seeing them more quickly if they have medical anxiety or phobias
• offering pain relief, distraction, or other forms of comfort
• offering longer or more flexible appointments
• offering home visits
• having quiet or private areas
• catering to people with service animals

Some patients may be unaware of the accommodations available to them or feel embarrassed to ask for them.

Healthcare staff can help with this by normalizing accommodations, making the various options more visible in common areas, and routinely offering them to patients.

Although disabled people comprise the largest minority group in the world, research from 2022 mentions numerous studies showing that there is a lack of teaching about disability in medical courses.

Education and training can help to dispel myths about disability and give people guidance on how best to interact with disabled people. This may involve:

• learning about the different types of disability and how they affect people
• learning about ableism and how this harms people
• receiving training on the language and practices to use or avoid

If a person with a disability believes they have received unfair treatment, they can take several actions.

First, it is important that they know their legal rights. ADA.gov summarizes the various legislation that can apply to people with disabilities, and has dedicated information on a range of topics, such as:

This knowledge may help people advocate for themselves by asking for reasonable accommodations or changes in treatment.

People who have difficulty advocating for themselves may benefit from working with someone who can advocate for them. Organizations such as the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy can connect people with professional health advocates.

If a health facility or employee may have broken the law, keep any written evidence. People may wish to speak with a disability rights lawyer or apply for legal aid.

Ensuring those with disabilities receive equal healthcare involves making sure they have the same access to quality medical treatment as others.

Because people with disabilities are from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, this means catering to different needs via accessible design, providing accommodations, and training staff to be disability-confident.

Knowing their legal rights, using local support services, or having a health advocate can help people navigate the healthcare system.