WASHINGTON, October 1, 2013—Today the Equal Rights Center (ERC)—a national non-profit civil rights organization — announced the release of a new Accessible Health Care Self Advocacy Toolkit.

“This toolkit will be a valuable resource for individuals with disabilities who face difficulties seeking accessible medical care,” said Kat Taylor, Disability Rights Program Manager at the ERC. “This toolkit will help inform individuals with disabilities on their rights under the law in a health care setting, and teach them how to be effective self-advocates for accessible medical care.”

More than 57 million people living in the United States have a disability. People with disabilities have a right to accessible health care under federal, state and local laws. As medical technologies and facilities continue to advance, medical care providers must ensure that their services and equipment are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The lack of accessible health care facilities, equipment, and services too often means compromised medical diagnoses and treatment, to the detriment of patients with disabilities.

The Accessible Health Care Self Advocacy Toolkit highlights the civil rights afforded to patients with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This toolkit also instructs individuals on how to alert a medical service provider to an accessibility issue, and how to request a reasonable accommodation from a medical care facility. Along with providing information on potential avenues of relief to those that face discrimination in the health care setting, this toolkit also teaches individuals with disabilities how to be effective self-advocates for their rights under the law.

The ERC provides a wealth of information and resources for individuals who may face discrimination. The Accessible Health Care Self Advocacy Toolkit is available for download at www.equalrightscenter.org/publications.

This toolkit was funded by a grant from the United Way of the National Capital Area.

About the Equal Rights Center (www.equalrightscenter.org)
Originally formed in 1983, the Equal Rights Center (ERC) is a national non-profit civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C. With members located in every state and the District of Columbia, the ERC works nationally to promote equal opportunity in housing, employment, disability rights, immigrant rights, and access to public accommodations and government services for all protected classes under federal, state, and local laws.

About the United Way of the National Capital Area (www.unitedwaynca.org)
Serving the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties for more than 35 years, the United Way of the National Capital Area works to inspire acts of caring, deliver hope and improve lives