Barriers to Health Care
for Women with Disabilities

People with physical disabilities do not get preventive health care as much as they should. There are barriers that keep women with disabilities from getting screening and preventive care. Some of these barriers are listed below, along with things you can do to remove them.

·         Some facilities and their equipment are not accessible to women with a physical disability.

·         Some health care providers don't have a full understanding about disability.

·         Some women do not get the help they need during a health care visit.

·         Sometimes health care providers think that all health problems are due to the disability.

·         Health providers often do not address general, sexual or reproductive health in women with disabilities because they focus only on the disabling condition.

·         Some women with disabilities believe that many health problems cannot be prevented.

·         Many times the women themselves are not proactive and don't advocate for their own health care needs.

Some facilities and their equipment are not accessible to women with a physical disability.

• When you call to make an appointment for your gyn exam and mammogram, be sure to ask if the building and equipment are accessible.
• Be sure to ask for names and phone numbers of facilities that are accessible.
• If you find a facility is not accessible, talk to your doctor or nurse and tell him or her what is wrong and how to fix it (for example, add a hook on the restroom door where you can reach it from your wheelchair or add grab bars to help you with transfers).

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Some health care providers don't have a full understanding about disability.

• Tell your doctor or nurse that you know your body better than anyone.
• Educate your doctor or nurse about your disability.

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Some women do not get the help they need during a health care visit.

• Explain what help you need and when you need it.
• Be very specific about what you can do and what kind of help you need (for example, moving to exam table, dressing, etc.).

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Sometimes health care providers think that all health problems are due to the disability.

• It is OK to tell your doctor or nurse that you are an individual and your disability is only a part of who you are.
• Remind your doctor or nurse that many health care problems are not related to your disability.

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Health providers often do not address general, sexual or reproductive health in women with disabilities because they focus only on the disabling condition.

• Be sure to explain that you need health care that addresses all your needs.
• If your doctor or nurse does not talk about issues that are important to you (such as sexuality, reproductive/gyn issues, etc.), bring the topic up yourself. Explain that these issues are as important to you as they are to other women.
• You should ask your questions and expect the answers. If you don't get them, it is OK to ask again.

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Some women with disabilities believe that many health problems cannot be prevented.

• It is important for you to know about your disability.
• You can use health promotion strategies to keep health problems from happening.
• Your health promotion actions can prevent you from getting a secondary disability. These actions will help to maintain or improve your quality of life.

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Many times the women themselves are not proactive and don't advocate for their own health care needs.

• Make a list of questions before your health care visit. Use this list to make sure your questions are answered.
• Go over your list ahead of time to make sure you make your most important points.
• Ask your doctor or nurse to sit at your level so that you can make eye contact.
• Become an advocate for yourself and for others.

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07/28/2003 11:10 AM