State of disability in medical education

 

• About 1,500 medical students in the U.S. have disclosed a disability and receive formal accommodations. That's about 2.7 percent of students, according to the report, and represents a lower percentage than seen in other undergraduate programs, which average at about 11 percent for students who have disclosed a disability.
• The report found that in medicine especially, many students hide their disability out of a real "fear of judgment”
• The report identifies very clear barriers and considerations schools can take in response. That includes everything from the way disabilities are discussed in the admissions process to having a person within the institution who is well versed in both disability access issues and medical school requirements, to help future doctors better navigate their training.
• To capture the current state of disability in medical education, the AAMC and the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine partnered to publish a new report drawn from the lived experiences of learners with disabilities. This publication weaves together major themes from interviews with 47 students, residents, and physicians with disabilities to identify cultural and structural barriers and catalyze institutional policies that support all qualified learners, regardless of disability, throughout the medical education continuum.
• The report highlights key considerations that leaders in academic medicine can implement to increase meaningful access for learners with disabilities, including:
  • Infusing considerations for individuals with disabilities into all diversity and inclusion initiatives
  • Designating and resourcing disability services providers who are knowledgeable about medical education
  • Integrating best practices in disability and accessible and respectful language into curricula and pedagogy
  • Taking a universal design approach to both physical space and learner activities and experiences
  • Normalizing help-seeking behaviors and facilitating access to wellness services
  • Providing ongoing professional development for faculty and staff. 

Links

• https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/03/13/593213404/for-aspiring-doctors-with-disabilities-many-medical-schools-come-up-short

Categories

Tags

• Education
• Statistics
• Barriers
• Best Practice Example
• Accessibility