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Health Care

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Women with disabilities have many of the same health concerns and needs as all women—such as needing routine Pap screens or treatment for the flu or an infection. They also might have special health concerns related to their disabilities or illnesses.

Yet people with disabilities often face barriers to receiving good overall health care. Part of the problem is that some doctors have had limited experience treating patients with disabilities, both during their medical training and in their practice. As a result, a doctor might focus on the patient's disability rather than on the health problem that brought the patient to the doctor in the first place. The doctor also might not know to check for health conditions that are more common among people with disabilities, such as depression or pressure sores.

Another issue is physical barriers at health care facilities. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that all public buildings, including health care facilities, be accessible to people with disabilities, problems still remain. For instance, many doctors do not have exam tables that can be lowered for easy access by patients in wheelchairs. As a result, the doctor may do a pelvic exam on a woman while she is seated in her wheelchair. This set-up does not allow for a thorough exam. A health problem, such as a vaginal infection, is easy to overlook.

More and more, doctors and others who provide health care are becoming aware of the barriers faced by people with disabilities and are working to address them. But if you have a disability, you need to look out for yourself to ensure that you get the best possible health care. This is important for all people, but even more so for people with disabilities. For more information, see Tips for Getting the Best Possible Health Care.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   New Freedom Initiative: Fulfilling America's Promise to Americans with Disabilities - This site gives information on the New Freedom Initiative, part of a nationwide effort to remove barriers to community living for people with disabilities. It provides information on what the different branches of the government are doing to remove these barriers.

   http://www.hhs.gov/newfreedom

2.   The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities: What It Means to You - This publication provides in simple language the same basic information found in the larger Call to Action and its purpose is to improve everyone’s knowledge about the health and wellness of people with disabilities.

   http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/disabilities/calltoaction/whatitmeanstoyou....

3.   Women with Disabilities: Access to Health - This publication discusses some of the barriers that women with disabilities face in receiving adequate health care. It also lists accommodations that can make hospitals and health clinics more accessible to women with disabilities.

   http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/women/access.htm

4.   Access to Preventive Health Care Services for Women with Disabilities (Copyright © ASTHO) - This fact sheet provides an overview of some of the major barriers to accessing preventive health care that women with disabilities face. In addition it provides actions state public health agencies can consider pursuing to eliminate these barriers.

   http://www.astho.org/pubs/WomenwithDisabilitiesFactSheet2.pdf

5. Educate Your Doctor (Copyright © NCODH) - This web page links to a publication you can give to your doctor, called “Removing Barriers to Health Care: A Guide for Health Professionals.” It will help them understand the barriers disabled women experience when trying to go to the doctor.

   http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncodh/orchid/pages/educatedoctor.cfm

6. Health Care-Ability to Obtain Care (Copyright © Baylor College of Medicine) - This publication discusses the difficulties women with disabilities face in getting medical care and treatment. In addition it provides information and newsletters on a variety of topics.

   http://www.bcm.edu/crowd/?pmid=1434

7. A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities (Copyright © Hesperian Foundation) - This book is written for women with disabilities around the world. It contains chapters about understanding and taking care of your body, growing older with a disability, abuse, violence, self-defense, and much more.

   http://www.hesperian.org/publications_download_wwd.php

Organizations

1.   DisabilityInfo.gov
2.   Office on Disability, HHS
3.   The Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy
4. Center for Research on Women with Disabilities
5. National Disability Rights Network

= Indicates Federal Resources