All disabled people have the right to accessible, respectful, and effective healthcare. This page centers disabled people's experiences navigating healthcare systems and provides practical guidance for asserting your rights in medical settings.
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Regardless of where you live, certain principles should govern your healthcare:
Autonomy and consent:
You have the right to make decisions about your own body and healthcare. Informed consent means understanding what's proposed, the risks and benefits, and alternatives—and freely choosing whether to proceed.
Non-discrimination:
Healthcare providers should not deny treatment, provide inferior care, or treat you differently because of your disability.
Accessibility:
Healthcare settings, information, and communication should be accessible to you.
Dignity and respect:
You deserve to be treated with respect, have your concerns taken seriously, and not be spoken about as if you're not in the room.
Article 25 establishes that disabled people have the right to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination. Countries that ratified the CRPD commit to:
Physical barriers: Inaccessible facilities, equipment, and exam tables.
Communication barriers: Lack of interpreters, inaccessible materials, assumptions about communication abilities.
Attitudinal barriers: Providers who make assumptions about quality of life, dismiss symptoms, or lack disability knowledge.
Systemic barriers: Insurance limitations, long wait times, shortage of providers with disability expertise.
Medical gaslighting: Having real symptoms attributed to "just" your disability, or having concerns dismissed.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act:
Healthcare providers receiving federal funding (Medicare, Medicaid) cannot discriminate against disabled patients. This covers most hospitals and many providers.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act:
Prohibits discrimination in healthcare programs receiving federal financial assistance. Explicitly includes disability discrimination.
HIPAA:
Protects privacy of health information and gives you rights to access your records.
Effective communication:
Providers must pay for interpreters and aids—you cannot be charged.
Physical accessibility:
Reasonable modifications:
Decision-making:
Where to file:
Office for Civil Rights (OCR) - HHS:
For Section 504, ADA Title II, and Section 1557 complaints against healthcare providers.
Department of Justice:
For ADA Title III complaints against private providers.
State licensing boards:
For professional misconduct by individual providers.
State insurance commissioner:
For insurance-related issues.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid):
For Medicare/Medicaid provider issues.
Insurance protections:
Medicare:
Medicaid:
Private insurance:
ADAPT: Fights for healthcare access and community-based services
Little Lobbyists: Families of medically complex children advocating for healthcare
Center for Disability Rights: Healthcare advocacy
National Health Law Program: Legal advocacy on healthcare issues
Canada Health Act:
Establishes criteria for provincial health insurance programs. Does not explicitly address disability but non-discrimination principles apply.
Canadian Human Rights Act:
Prohibits discrimination in federal services.
Provincial Human Rights Codes:
Prohibit discrimination in healthcare.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms:
Section 15 equality rights apply to healthcare.
Canada's universal healthcare system covers medically necessary services, but disabled people face specific barriers:
Coverage gaps:
Provincial variation:
Each province administers healthcare differently. Services available depend on where you live.
Wait times:
Long waits for some services disproportionately affect disabled people.
Communication access:
Hospitals and clinics should provide interpreters and accessible formats.
Physical accessibility:
Healthcare facilities should be accessible, though enforcement varies.
Decision-making:
Each province has healthcare consent legislation. Supported decision-making increasingly recognized.
Council of Canadians with Disabilities: National advocacy including healthcare
Provincial disability organizations
Health advocacy organizations in each province
Equality Act 2010:
Prohibits disability discrimination in healthcare and requires reasonable adjustments.
Human Rights Act 1998:
Right to life and prohibition of inhuman/degrading treatment apply to healthcare.
NHS Constitution:
Establishes rights of NHS patients including right to accessible information.
Mental Capacity Act 2005:
Governs decision-making for people who may lack capacity.
The National Health Service provides universal healthcare, but disabled people report significant barriers:
Access issues:
"Do Not Resuscitate" concerns:
Disabled people have raised serious concerns about inappropriate DNR orders, particularly during COVID-19.
Mental health services:
Significant gaps in mental health services. Long waits for assessment and treatment.
Reasonable adjustments:
Healthcare providers must make reasonable adjustments to ensure you can access services.
Accessible Information Standard:
NHS providers must identify, record, and meet communication needs.
NHS Continuing Healthcare:
Funding for ongoing healthcare needs outside hospital. Eligibility assessments are often contested.
Social care:
Care Act 2014 establishes right to needs assessment and support.
Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC): Healthcare activism
Inclusion London: Research and advocacy on healthcare experiences
Disability Rights UK: Healthcare rights information
EU-level protections:
Country variation:
Healthcare systems and disability rights laws vary significantly between member states.
Universal healthcare:
Most EU countries have universal or near-universal healthcare coverage.
Accessibility requirements:
EU Accessibility Act (2019) will improve some aspects of healthcare accessibility.
Cross-border care:
EU rules on cross-border healthcare can be relevant for disabled people seeking services in other member states.
Germany:
Strong social insurance system. Extensive rehabilitation services. Disabled people's organizations have raised concerns about assisted suicide laws.
France:
Universal healthcare coverage. Accessibility requirements improving but implementation uneven.
Netherlands:
Strong healthcare system. Active euthanasia legal—disabled people's organizations have raised concerns about pressure on disabled people.
Nordic countries:
Generally strong healthcare systems and disability supports. Implementation varies.
European Disability Forum: EU-level healthcare advocacy
National disabled people's organizations in each country
Disability Discrimination Act 1992:
Prohibits discrimination in healthcare.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS):
Provides funding for disability supports but does not cover healthcare.
State anti-discrimination laws:
Additional protections vary by state.
Medicare:
Universal healthcare covers many services but significant gaps exist.
NDIS interface:
Complex boundary between healthcare (Medicare) and disability supports (NDIS). Disputes common.
Mental health:
Significant service gaps. Many disabled people report difficulty accessing mental health services.
Non-discrimination:
Healthcare providers cannot refuse treatment based on disability.
Communication access:
Interpreters and accessible information should be provided.
Accessibility:
Healthcare facilities should be accessible.
People with Disability Australia: Healthcare advocacy
First Peoples Disability Network: Indigenous disabled people's healthcare issues
State disability organizations
Many countries have signed the CRPD but implementation of healthcare accessibility varies widely. Common barriers include:
Before the appointment:
During the appointment:
After the appointment:
If providers dismiss your concerns:
When requesting accommodations:
Common accommodations to request:
Planning ahead:
In emergency situations:
What healthcare barriers have you faced? What strategies have worked? What's missing about healthcare access in your country?
Share through our [contribution form] or email [email protected].
Last updated: November 2025
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