Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals with disabilities should have equal access to health services. This means that medical equipment needs to be physically accessible; reasonable accommodations for hearing, vision, and cognitive need to be met; effective communication must be provided, and staff should be trained on how to work with people with disabilities.
More extensive information on accessible healthcare may be found in our Healthcare Toolkit.
Fact Sheets
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Northwest ADA Center: Accessible Health Care
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Northwest ADA Center: Accessible Medical Examination Tables and Chairs
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Northwest ADA Center: Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment
- Department of Justice: Access to Medical Care For Individuals with Mobility Disabilities
- The Joint Commission: Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient- and Family-Centered Care: A Roadmap for Hospitals (PDF)
Resources
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Department of Justice: Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative
- Northwest ADA Center: Accessibility Checklist for Medical Clinics and Facilities in Washington: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design; Washington State (April 2015) (DOC)
- Northwest ADA Center: Accessibility Checklist for Medical Clinics and Facilities in Oregon: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design; Oregon State Building Code (October 2013) (PDF)
- Northwest ADA Center: Accessibility Checklist for Medical Clinics and Facilities in Idaho: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design; Idaho State (November 2015) (PDF) (DOC)
- Northwest ADA Center: Accessible Health Care
- Northwest ADA Center: Accessible Medical Examination Tables and Chairs
- Northwest ADA Center: Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment
- Northwest ADA Center: Disability-Related Inquiries and Medical Exams
- Northwest ADA Center: Disability Language and Etiquette: Medical Facilities
- Department of Justice: Access to Medical Care For Individuals with Mobility Disabilities
- The Joint Commission: Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient- and Family-Centered Care: A Roadmap for Hospitals (PDF)