Scary. Frustrating. Tiring. Nervous. Confusing.
Visitors to the Think Accessibility booth tried to do common patient tasks from the perspective of people with disabilities and made some interesting discoveries.
Using adapted goggles and modified-vision cards, participants tried to read consent forms and pill bottles with vision simulating eye conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. With hearing blocked, they tried to understand verbal instructions for a new medication regime. And wearing socks and elastics on their hands to simulate arthritis, cerebral palsy or spinal cord injury, they tried to fill a standard pill container.
They recorded their reactions and “aha” moments on light-bulb-shaped paper and entered the draw for coffee cards, won by Carole Jeanty, Josee McCoy and Melissa Nicastro.
Some of these accessibility hurdles are easily overcome: face a person who is hard of hearing while you speak; provide alternatives to print and verbal information; and offer accessible products or personal support. Everyone can help reduce barriers to safe, effective and quality health care.
Here are some of the “aha” moments:
“How scary it can be for someone to look at a page and not be able to read any of the information.”
“Unbelievable how much we take for granted.”
“I can see how frustrating it is to wade through the paperwork with a visual disability. It must be tiring to try so hard to see.”
“When I could not hear, I wanted her to slow down. How many times do we hurry when we speak to patients!”
“We need to be more understanding of others.”
“Could not concentrate on the pill container, dizzy, confused, needed to see instructions.”
“Wow! I have so many patients with glaucoma. Must think more about this.”
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