Treating Patients with Disabilities
Treating Patients with Physical and Sensory
Disabilities
Remember to:
• Speak directly with the patient, not to any companion that the patient may
have.
• Avoid making assumptions about what assistance the patient needs. Offer
assistance, wait for offer to be accepted and wait for instructions.
• Ask how you can help them and respect their answers.
• Presume that patients with disabilities are competent to handle their own
medical care. If patients do not have anyone to assist them, do not ask them
whether they brought an aide or a companion.
• Allow time for history taking and thorough exam.
• Use “person-first” language when referring to patients with disabilities (i.e.
person who is blind, person who uses wheelchair, person with hearing loss)
unless the patient asks to be referred to in another manner.
• Don’t be afraid to ask the patient questions if you are unsure.
Patients who are Blind or Low Vision
• Always verbally identify yourself when you approach and introduce other
people in the room.
• Do not leave without letting the patient know.
• Ask before you help. Always ask how they would like to be assisted. Ask the
person before you touch him/her to offer help.
• Be prepared to provide written materials in an auditory, tactile, or electronic
format of the patient’s preference (CD, Braille, large print).
• Verbally explain procedures before beginning treatment and ask the patients if
they have any questions.
• Tell the patient where personal affects (clothes and other belongings) are in the
room and do not move them without telling the patient.
• Staff should be welcoming and describe the physical environment (doors, steps,
ramps, bathroom location, etc.).
• Never distract or touch a service animal without asking the owner.
Patients who are Hard of Hearing
• Ask how best to communicate.
• Be prepared to give written materials as long as they are not the
primary form of communication.
• Inform patients that sign language interpreting and real-time captioning
services are available.
• If requested, promptly provide sign language interpreting or real-time
captioning service for effective communication.
• Do not talk at a distance from them or from another room.
• Look directly at the patient when speaking so they can see your mouth.
• Speak normally and clearly. Do not shout, exaggerate mouth
movements, or speak rapidly.
• Minimize background noise and glare.
Patients who are Deaf
• Ask how best to communicate.
• Inform patients that sign language interpreting and real-
time captioning services are available.
• If requested, promptly provide sign language interpreting
or real-time captioning service for effective communication.
• Family members should not be used to interpret.
• Address the patient, not the interpreter.
• Be prepared to give written materials as long as they are
not the primary form of communication.
Wheelchair Users
• Make sure there is a path of access to the room.
• Respect personal space, including wheelchair and assistive
devices.
• Do not propel the wheelchair unless asked to do so.
• Provide accessible equipment as needed.
• Provide assistance as needed, such as by clearing obstacles
from the path of travel or helping patients transfer to equipment
if accessible equipment is unavailable.
• Do not separate patients from their wheelchairs.
• Do not examine patients while seated in their wheelchairs if
the examination requires a person to lie down.
