[Missouri-l] Fw: [leadership] New Initiative Examines Accessibility of Health CareSystem

[Chip Hailey]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Eric Bridges 
To: leadership at acb.org 
Cc: announce at acb.org 
Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 4:42 PM
Subject: [leadership] New Initiative Examines Accessibility of Health CareSystem


For the past few months, ACB members and representatives from the national office have been meeting on a regular basis with the Equal Rights Center (ERC) in Washington to discuss a wide array of access issues. While the below article profiles physical accessibility issues for individuals with mobility disabilities in the Washington DC area, the ERC wants to hear from the blind and visually impaired community nationally. We have spoken about the lack of accessible prescription drug labels, the loss of privacy that occurs when having to dictate private information to medical staff in order to complete forms, and the lack of brochures and other publications in alternate formats that describe the illness or other disease you may be diagnosed with. Please feel free to contact ERC with these or other concerns you have with the inaccessibility of our health system.        

 

 

Best Regards, 

 

Eric 

 

The ERC was founded in 1983 as the Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington.  In 1999, the FHC merged with the Fair Employment Council of Greater Washington and changed its name to the ERC.  Finally, in 2005 the Disability Rights Council merged with the ERC.

 

 

 

New Initiative Examines Accessibility of Health Care System

 

In response to complaints about inaccessible medical services and equipment, the Equal Rights Center (ERC) has launched a new initiative aimed at eliminating this form of discrimination.  The initiative began after three ERC members who use wheelchairs called the ERC to report denial of services, inaccessible tables, and inadequate lifting practices at medical clinics in Washington, D.C.  

 

"The inaccessibility of basic medical equipment, such as examination tables, seriously compromises the quality of care individuals with disabilities receive," said ERC Executive Director, Don Kahl.  "Not providing equal preventative and urgent care services to a large segment of our population is not only illegal but also a disservice to our entire country."   

 

These complaints are not the first encountered by the ERC in addressing accessibility barriers.  In 2005 the ERC advocated for accessible medical facilities and reached a settlement with Washington Hospital Center, which mandated that medical facilities, such as examination rooms, examination tables and other medical equipment be made accessible.  The settlement also addressed inadequacies in policies and procedures to ensure that patients with disabilities receive the assistance they need to eat, drink, and otherwise care for themselves.

 

"A health center should be a place of safe harbor for all individuals," said Jennifer Wolfsheimer, the ERC's Disability Rights Manager.  "Equal treatment at health centers not only improves the wellbeing of the individuals who visit, but also improves the lives of the entire community through a more healthy and active citizenry." 

 

In an effort to ensure people with disabilities do not encounter similar forms of discrimination, the ERC has began an initiative to educate people with disabilities about their rights and health care providers about their responsibilities and, when necessary, advocacy and enforcement directed at those who violate the laws protecting people with disabilities. 

 

If you or anyone you know has encountered accessibility issues at a health facility or if you would like to get involved in this initiative please contact Jennifer Wolfsheimer at 202-370-3210 or jwolfsheimer at equalrightscenter.org 

 

 



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