Lack of satisfactory communication between doctor and patient is often cited as one of the major barriers for people with disability in accessing quality health care. Currently, there is no requirement for medical schools to specifically train students in providing services to people with disability. Resulting misconceptions have, in some cases, led to the denial of health care services. A study in 2005 showed that 76 percent of GPs saw themselves as inadequately trained to treat patients with intellectual disability.529
People with disability with higher support needs and who use augmented communication devices experience significant levels of unnecessary stress when hospitalised due to poor understanding of disability support by hospital professionals and lack of training in supporting people with disability in this environment.
Case Study
A patient had severe Cerebral Palsy and communicated with an E tran communication board. While in hospital, staff placed the E tran on the floor and he was unable to communicate his need to use the bathroom. When staff found him, he had wet his pants and because he was flailing his arms, staff drugged him.530
