Having said all that, accessibility doesn’t always just refer to a ramp or a lift. Ideally, it should also include and consider other types of disabilities. Rainer J.*, for example, is blind and has come to realize that the staff in hospitals and medical offices is often not trained in handling blind persons. "People are terribly awkward when they touch and guide me," he says. "Unfortunately, it is always very common for both physicians and nurses, to look at the personal aide instead of looking and addressing me directly. During conversations, this is more or less obvious and noticeable. I try to circumvent this by keeping the accompanying person out of the conversation." Though Rainer J. adds that this is often frustrating because he would have liked to have an additional assessment and account of the fairly complicated medical context.
And then there are those disabilities that are not apparent at first sight – as is the case with Kerstin M.* for instance. "My disability is invisible; when other people interact with me, they often don’t realize at first that I have autism. Yet my problems are very much there, even though I am able to compensate for them quite well. However, when it comes to doctor’s appointments, I find it difficult to compensate. Admittedly, for people with autism, accessibility is a concept that comes in many different shapes and sizes. That’s why I can’t expect a medical office to be accessible without me asking for any specific support I might need." Having said that, she and many other people on the autism spectrum benefit if written and digital communication is made possible – prior to scheduling a doctor’s appointment and in case they have questions about prescription medications.
"In these types of situations, it’s wonderful if I can write an email. Yet I don’t expect this to be the case – I just would prefer it because it eliminates a big obstacle for me," explains the young woman. "The number of medical offices with websites and digital communication channels or online scheduling options has steadily increased for many years and that’s a wonderful thing! At this point, I specifically choose new doctors based on whether or not they offer certain accommodations."
She adds that no matter what, it’s important that physicians take time for their patients and don’t just quickly go through the motions. "Taking the time is a great foundation for finding solutions and also for defusing difficult situations. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time but it is very helpful if, during my first visit with a new doctor, I can take a few minutes to explain my invisible disability and what accessibility means to me."
The difference between an accessible appointment, where physicians address her concerns and an appointment where this isn’t the case is apparent in how Kerstin M.* feels after the visit. "If I am not taken seriously, I am often overexcited and exhausted to where I have to spend the rest of my day in bed. But when physicians and medical practices pay attention to this 'soft' individual accessibility, I am often able to go back to the university, go shopping or run errands after the appointment."
Whether it is autism or a physical disability – there is generally a strong foundation if health professionals don’t have any reservations and are willing to compromise. After all, making your brain accessible is often still the biggest obstacle we need to overcome.
* = Name changed by editorial team
