ACP urges disability inclusion in healthcare

The American College of Physicians (ACP) is pushing for disability-inclusive training and accessible clinics, addressing disparities faced by disabled patients, including lower life expectancy and difficulty accessing preventative care. These recommendations include 13 policy changes for physicians with disabilities and 11 for patients, impacting medical education, training, and healthcare systems. Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act, only about 3.1% of practicing physicians report having a disability, while a higher percentage of medical students and residents do. The ACP attributes this drop-off to systemic barriers, not physician capability, which affect disclosure, limit access to accommodations, and hinder retention. The ACP is urging medical schools and training programs to revise exclusionary standards, ensure transparent accommodation policies, and invest in disability resource professionals. They are also calling on accreditation bodies to include disability inclusion in diversity mandates. The ACP emphasizes the need to combat ableism and biases about disability in medical education to equip future physicians to provide inclusive, patient-centered care. Recommendations include accessible facilities with equipment, interpreters, and accessible routes.