Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!
New Jersey residents with disabilities report health care problems that damage safety and dignity. Kelly Boyd describes offensive comments, blocked entrances, and skipped weight checks during routine visits.
These problems carry grave consequences. A 2022 World Health Organization report links higher illness and early death to unfair system factors and misattributed symptoms.
Reporting documents patterns statewide: communication failures, too few clinicians accepting Medicaid, inaccessible equipment and rooms, and rushed appointments that miss warning signs. Some facilities are removing physical barriers and noting communication supports in charts.
Training failures persist across providers. Rutgers researchers found adults with disabilities rate clinicians lower for attentiveness, respect, time, and clarity. Advocates cite Section 504 protections and demand disability-affirming care across clinics and emergency departments.
Read the Full Article: In NJ, people with disabilities face indignity, missed diagnoses, barriers to health care
By: Gene Myers and Scott Fallon
