People With Disabilities’ Perspective of Barriers to Health Care and the ADA Accessibility Guidelines
By Webel, Jacqueline; Gray, David B.; Proceedings of the 2009 ADA National Network (DBTAC) Research Conference, pp. 54-58Publication Date: October 27, 2009
Study undertaken to determine the features identified by people with disabilities as important to their access to healthcare, and to match them to features described in the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). A survey and three town hall meetings were conducted with adult participants with mobility, visual, and hearing impairments recruited from community organizations, support groups, and a Center for Independent Living. Facilitator features most often reported at survey participants’ doctor’s office included flat sidewalk surfaces, adequate lighting, a level entrance or ramp, wide clear aisles, accessible parking, and an accessible bathroom. Among these features, all but adequate lighting were found to have specific guidelines in the ADAAG. Features deemed important but not present reported included a covered pick up and drop off area, automatic or lightweight doors, Braille or large print forms, closed captioning on the television in the waiting area, and a TTY phone, all of which are described in the ADAAG. Also reported but not included in the ADAAG were minimal background noise and a height-adjustable exam table. Barriers to healthcare identified by the town hall meeting participants which had no matches in the ADAAG included public transportation options for appointments, poor signage, lack of height-adjustable exam tables, and automatic doors that do not stay open long enough to pass safely through. Implications of the study on individual, community, and societal levels are discussed.
Published by: ADA National Network (DBTAC) (Website:http://www.adata.org/)
ADA National Network (DBTAC) (Web Site: http://www.adata.org/ )
Link to text: http://www.dbtac.vcu.edu/conference/200910/ADANatlNetworkConferenceProceedings2009.pdf
