Delivering the best care: How health care providers can be more inclusive for people with disabilities

By Jesse Berlin

For many people, a visit to the hospital or health clinic is unplanned. Sickness or illness arise out of the blue, an injury happens out of nowhere or something can be happening internally that you couldn’t prepare for. Because of this, as many people as possible should have access to health care that can address these unexpected needs, but people with disabilities can face greater difficulties in receiving adequate support because of systemic and institutional issues that are beyond their control [1] [2].

Communication mishaps between the patient and health care provider, structural discrepancies in how the layout of the building is designed and rooms are set up and operational disparities in how health care providers conduct business can create challenges [1] [2]. People with disabilities can be left without receiving the proper treatment that anyone else can get and deserve as patients hoping to see a doctor.

First, health care providers can make changes to how they may interact with patients with disabilities so that all appointments go as smoothly as possible and the patient feels the most secure and comfortable [1]. According to an article about inclusive medical care by the PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program at Northeastern University, having qualified interpreters or methods to interpret between all parties, alternative forms of communication like assistive technology and plain language explanations at your disposal can help bridge any gaps while completing a diagnosis and talking through a treatment plan [2].

Giving yourself enough time to explain and work through each step of the visit and being clear and upfront through every stage via a variety of verbal, written and visual aids, methods and possible devices will help ensure nothing is misinterpreted or miscommunicated and that everyone in the room is on the same page through the initial gathering of information, any potential examinations and the final assessment, according to a study on equitable health care in the National Library of Medicine [3].

It’s also important for medical professionals to never assume anything about someone and their health situation based on preconceived biases, rush to conclusions based on a lack of knowledge and prior experience or treat disability monolithically rather than on a per person basis [2] [3]. Always presume that the patient can speak for themselves and knows not only their own body and their own health care needs but also how to best explain and understand medical issues, says the Office of Developmental Primary Care at the University of California San Francisco [4]. It helps for a medical professional to also address a patient face-to-face and not at an interpreter or support person that may be with them [4].

Don’t assume things about the disability itself and how it may or may not affect an individual as biases, even those the medical professional may not mean or intend to have, could interfere with a proper diagnosis and treatment plan [4]. It’s understandable for a health care provider to want to provide a patient with the best quality of life possible to make sure all health issues are addressed, but you should avoid confusing the disability with the reason the patient wanted to see a doctor and allow the patient themselves to set their own baseline to which they’d like to return through your treatment plan [4].

Health care providers can also make it easier for anyone, regardless of disability status, to navigate around the building and feel as comfortable as possible in exam and procedural rooms during visits [2]. For those managing and running a hospital or health clinic, make sure physical accommodations such as ramps, elevators, grab bars, especially in restrooms, accessible entrances and exits, are in place and that height-adjustable exam tables and wheelchair-accessible scales, according to an article by the disability rights non-profit Balance, are available [2] [5]. This could also include adapting a dedicated space or more than one in the facility into a sensory-free environment without bright lights and loud noises [4].

Lastly, health care providers can adjust the way they get people in and out the door and the systems in place to handle the inflow of patients. Sticking to a set schedule or list of standards can treat people like numbers to cross off a list instead of as individuals with specific sets of needs. Adapting these systems to accommodate a variety of circumstances can help make sure people aren’t mistreated or go untreated.

It can start with training and education the staff members receive [2]. If medical professionals aren’t equipped with the right knowledge and understanding of how to properly help and work with people with disabilities, they may not be prepared to support any patient who comes through the door [2]. They can learn and practice how to eliminate biases, even those they don’t intend to have, be respectful and considerate during any interactions, use assistive technology and accessible equipment to communicate with and assess patients more effectively and come up with alternative forms of communication and diagnostic methods to deliver the best possible care, according to an article by Duke Health [6].

On an administrative scale, the article by Duke Health continues, staff members can consider disability when scheduling and preparing for appointments, such as collecting and documenting accessibility needs to make sure a patient is comfortable on their first visit and that continuity of care is maintained during any future visits, making note of any accommodations and incorporating them in the physical space and online and gathering feedback and insight from patients to increase the level of inclusivity [6].

To maintain a functioning, productive society, peoples’ health and well-being should be a priority because individuals can’t go about their day-to-day lives if they don’t feel safe and comfortable. That’s why it’s imperative for anyone with health care needs, regardless of disability status, to be listened to, considered and properly supported in a smooth, efficient manner to promote happiness and stability.

[1] n.a. (2025, April 7). Disability and Health Information for Healthcare Providers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/about/disability-and-health-information-for-healthcare-providers.html.

[2] Cain, M. (n.d.). Disabilities in Healthcare: Bridging the Gap for Inclusive Care. Northeastern University PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program. https://undergraduate.northeastern.edu/prehealth/disabilities-in-healthcare-bridging-the-gap-for-inclusive-care/.

[3] Barbera, J.P., et. al. (2024, April). Equitable Care for Patients with Disabilities. National Library of Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10953678/.

[4] n.a. (n.d.). Supporting People with Disabilities in Health Care Settings. University of California San Francisco Office of Developmental Primary Care. https://odpc.ucsf.edu/content/supporting-people-with-disabilities-in-health-care-settings.

[5] Mallory. (n.d.). Improving Healthcare for People with Disabilities. Balance. https://www.balanceinc.org/blog/improving-healthcare-for-people-with-disabilities.

[6] Paulson, E. (2019, March 12). Six Ways to Improve Access to Care for People with Disabilities. Duke Health. https://physicians.dukehealth.org/articles/six-ways-improve-access-care-people-disabilities.