Become a Disability A.L.L.Y. —
Information for Healthcare Providers

All healthcare practices have patients with disabilities. Yet people with disabilities often face increased barriers when attempting to access care.

Providers, take steps to assess and enhance your practice. Be a healthcare A.L.L.Y. for individuals with disabilities. Small changes can make a measurable difference in the life of someone with a disability.

Step 1: Assess your practice

Use these sample checklists to determine areas of opportunity:

Step 2: Learn what you can do to build a more inclusive practice.

Use the graphics and videos below and join CDC in championing disability allyship by sharing these digital materials within your health system and community.

Personal Stories of Inclusive Health Care

Hear directly from healthcare providers and people with disabilities on why healthcare inclusion is so important. Please watch these impactful videos. Share them and the images with quotes from Special Olympic athletes sharing the positive role that healthcare providers have made in their lives. Hear also from fellow health professionals on why they champion inclusion in their practices.

Dustin Plunkett

Person with lived experience

Dustin Plunkett
Watch on YouTube
Download [MP4 – 4 MB]

Ian Kahalewai

Person with lived experience

Ian Kahalewai
Watch on YouTube
Download [MP4 – 5 MB]

Michael Leon

Person with lived experience

Michael Leon
Watch on YouTube
Download [MP4 – 8 MB]

Rudolpha Richards

Person with lived experience

Rudolpha Richards
Watch on YouTube
Download [MP4 – 10 MB]

David W. Jenkins

Provider

David W. Jenkins
Watch on YouTube
Download [MP4 – 17 MB]

Kathleen Rodriguez

Provider

Kathleen Rodriguez
Watch on YouTube
Download [MP4 – 9 MB]

Ideas for Building a More Inclusive Practice

More than 1 in 4 people live with a functional disability. These include disabilities in vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, self-care, and independent living.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that healthcare entities provide full and equal access for people with disabilities: Factsheet: Health Care and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Find Trainings

The following disability inclusion strategies can be a great place to start:

  1. Welcoming Spaces: Ensure your programs and physical spaces are accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities.
  2. Communication: Ensure your communications, including written and spoken language, materials, and interactions with the community, are accessible to people with disabilities.
  3. Awareness and Training: Understand your community and train your staff on the barriers and challenges faced by people with disabilities, including people-first language and how to remove any barriers.
  4. Sustainable and Intentional Inclusion: Build intentional and sustainable inclusion by changing organizational culture to value and understand the importance of including everyone.

These strategies were adapted from Special Olympics: Inclusive Health Principles and Strategies. Additional resources and trainings can also provide helpful guidance and direction.

Sample Messaging and Graphics

Please share these materials on your social media handles and tag @CDC_NCBDDD.

When healthcare providers champion an inclusive practice, everyone benefits.

Find resources to foster an inclusive practice: https://bit.ly/43RhB25

#DisabilityALLY
#Inclusion4Health

Healthcare providers: Are you an ally to those with disabilities?

Learn more: https://bit.ly/43RhB25

#DisabilityALLY
#Inclusion4Health

Healthcare providers are among the most important allies to people with disabilities. Providers who champion accessibility in their practices can have a significant impact on the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

Find resources to bring awareness to disability allyship: https://bit.ly/43RhB25

#DisabilityALLY
#Inclusion4Health

Healthcare providers: Is your medical practice inclusive of all patients?

Share this checklist with your colleagues to start a conversation about accessibility in healthcare settings.

#DisabilityALLY
#Inclusion4Health

Healthcare providers: What tools, strategies, and practices does your office implement to ensure accessibility for people of all abilities?

Share examples in your practice of accessibility and inclusion.

#DisabilityALLY
#Inclusion4Health

Everyone involved in providing health care can be an ALLY.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/43RhB25

#DisabilityALLY
#Inclusion4Health

Email Badges and Banners

Place these badges in your email signatures to amplify the message of disability allyship among healthcare professionals.