Shifting the Conversation: Disability, Disparities and Health Care Reform

Abstract

In keeping with the theme of this symposium, I would like to invite you to consider health care reform as a political shift in our thinking about the barriers and inequalities experienced by people with disabili-­‐ ties in our health care system. Traditionally, when these issues have been addressed, the predominant approach has been through a civil rights framework, specifically the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 1 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). 2 Now, the Patient Pro-­‐ tection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) 3 offers a new ap-­‐ proach. This essay will outline the barriers to health and health care experienced by people with disabilities, drawing upon my ongoing re-­‐ search into the impact of inaccessible medical equipment. 4