Disability Education in Medical School

CW: Ableism

Previous research has found that doctors in the United States feel unprepared to care for disabled people and have a negative bias toward this population. For example, although 7.4 million Americans have intellectual and developmental disabilities, physicians are often hesitant to treat these patients. 

In a survey of 714 Massachusetts physicians from various disciplines, just 40% reported being extremely confident in treating either patients with intellectual or physical disabilities. And only 56% strongly agreed that they would welcome disabled patients into their practice.

According to a new Northwestern Medicine study, much of this could be due to their medical school experience. The study discovered that the curriculum of medical schools frequently views disability as a problem, prompting medical students to develop negative assumptions about the health and quality of life of disabled people. 

According to corresponding author Carol Haywood, assistant professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, insufficient training about disabilities and disability-related care across settings perpetuates ableism and leaves medical students underprepared. “Doctors do not know how to care for people with disabilities because they never learned,” Haywood said. “Ultimately, our work reveals how medical education may be playing a critical role in creating and perpetuating ideas that people with disabilities are uncommon and unworthy in health care.”

When it comes to intellectual and developmental disabilities, 30 of the 155 medical schools in the United States have no courses focusing on intellectual and developmental disabilities. Those that do often offer the courses as electives.

The experts stated that fundamental change will be required to advance disability-related medical education. There has been a growing emphasis on “disability-competent” and “ableism-aware” medical education.

At Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Dr. Leslie Rydberg, an associate professor of physician medicine and rehabilitation and medical education, has been tasked with improving how medical students learn about disabilities.

In my experience, medical providers often don’t talk directly to me. Instead, they speak to my non-disabled friend, family member, or personal care assistant. I can have conversations with medical providers and I am aware of my medical needs.

In 2020, I worked with a physical therapist unfamiliar to me. She rarely spoke directly to me. Instead, she would ask my PCA questions like if I could lift my leg on command or what kind of music I wanted to listen to during the session. She could’ve asked me questions directly, especially since I was her patient. After this, I requested only to see the other PT.

I have been to two medical facilities with wheelchair-accessible scales. Neither of which has any other accessible equipment. I am unable to transfer independently, and if I didn’t have a PCA or family member with me, I would be unable to finish my appointment.

When it comes to healthcare, disabled people face several challenges. Sometimes disabled people go without necessary medical treatment, because of these challenges. Access to healthcare is critical for disabled people. Medical schools should teach their students about disabilities because anyone can be disabled.  

Sources:

Iezzoni, Lisa I et al. “Physicians’ Perceptions Of People With Disability And Their Health Care.” Health affairs (Project Hope) vol. 40,2 (2021): 297-306. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01452

Santra, Romila. “U.S. Medical Schools Aren’t Teaching Future Doctors about 7.4 Million of Their Patients.” STAT, Boston Globe Media , 8 Dec. 2023, http://www.statnews.com/2023/12/11/medical-schools-idd-education-intellectual-developmental-disabilities-patients/.

Samuelson, Kristin. “Disability Is Often Neglected in Medical School Curricula, New Study Finds.” Northwestern Now, Northwestern University , 14 Jan. 2025, news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/01/disability-often-neglected-in-medical-school-curricula-new-study-finds/.