When I got to my appointment, it was the same as all the other medical appointments — the receptionist handed me a pile of forms to fill out. For 44 years, I haven’t been able to write. So I am pondering why hospitals, doctor and dentist offices couldn’t mail or email these forms ahead of time in a format that allows a person to type directly onto it? Then we could send them back, completed.
When I asked the receptionist if she would assist me, she provided great customer service and helped me out. But what if I came across a receptionist who didn’t have time to assist me or simply didn’t want to? And, yes, I have met some who just won’t even help.
I’m no rocket scientist, but I am willing to bet that sending out medical forms ahead of an appointment would save a lot of time for everyone.
When I went in for the test, I was asked to do many things — such as lean forward, move my arms and be very still so the technician could get good images of my breasts. As I have cerebral palsy, all of these physical demands are very difficult. It took a while to get a good image, and as a result my “girls” had to suffer some very painful squeezing and days of sore consequences.
I was curious, being an advocate, so I asked the technician, “If a woman with a physical disability couldn’t comply with the physical demands of this test is there another way she could take it?” The answer was that ultrasound as another option. Were any of you aware of this? It stresses me out to know there are different ways of making the medical world more accommodating for people with disabilities and no one is saying anything. Why was this option not presented to me in the beginning?
I have friends who process information visually. One woman had a bad experience during a medical test because the professional kept talking in medical terms and she didn’t understand what was being said. To this day, she’s afraid to go to the doctor. How hard is it for the medical world to compose a picture book to show different procedures?
People with disabilities need and want to be able to take medical tests and procedures in order to maintain good overall health and prevent future issues. Just because a person has a disability, doesn’t mean we don’t want to be in the best shape possible.
As the world turns, there are going to be many more people who will need accommodations from the medical world. The accommodations don’t have to be major, but they do have to be well thought out and make sense. It would be nice if they were implemented to assist others now rather than later.
Shari Cooper is one of our regular community contributors.
People with disabilities need and want to be able to take medical tests and procedures in order to maintain good overall health and prevent future issues. Just because a person has a disability, doesn’t mean we don’t want to be in the best shape possible.
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