We’re dedicated to addressing disability challenges to reduce barriers and improve health outcomes for our members. Accessibility to offices, clinics, and other health care providers is not only legally required, it is essential in providing care to individuals with disabilities and impairments.
Creating an inclusive environment
It’s important to recognize some patients may experience multiple social, economic, and cultural factors that impact their quality of care. To better improve patient experience, create a respectful, accessible, and welcoming office environment for your patients.
Best practices:
- Know and understand the diversity of disabilities: mobility, sensory, cognitive, behavioral.
- Evaluate your practice and identify the skills, tools, and technologies necessary to provide quality care to your patients. Consider additional training and courses to support the needs of your patients.
- Communicate effectively using plain language, appropriate body language, signs, brochures, and other materials that reflect the diversity of disabilities.
- Identify whether a caregiver should be included for communications or decision-making.
- Have diverse signage, educational, and reading materials (ex: braille or an interpreter available) at physically accessible levels.
Disability competency training to consider
We encourage our providers and their office staff to continue their education and learn best practices to overcome barriers in achieving clinical quality goals and improved patient outcomes.
Massachusetts Office on Disability