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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> leadership-bounces@acb.org
[mailto:leadership-bounces@acb.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf
Of </span></b>Eric Bridges<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, December 11, 2009
4:43 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> leadership@acb.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> announce@acb.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [leadership] New
Initiative Examines Accessibility of Health CareSystem</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>For the past few months, ACB members and representatives
from the national office have been meeting on a regular basis with the Equal
Rights Center (ERC) in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Washington</st1:State></st1:place>
to discuss a wide array of access issues. While the below article profiles
physical accessibility issues for individuals with mobility disabilities in the
Washington DC area, the ERC wants to hear from the blind and visually impaired
community nationally. We have spoken about the lack of accessible prescription
drug labels, the loss of privacy that occurs when having to dictate private
information to medical staff in order to complete forms, and the lack of
brochures and other publications in alternate formats that describe the illness
or other disease you may be diagnosed with. Please feel free to contact ERC
with these or other concerns you have with the inaccessibility of our health
system. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Best Regards, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Eric <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The ERC was founded in 1983 as the
Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington. In 1999, the FHC merged with
the Fair Employment Council of Greater Washington and changed its name to the
ERC. Finally, in 2005 the Disability Rights Council merged with the ERC.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>New Initiative Examines Accessibility
of Health Care System</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In response to complaints about inaccessible medical services and
equipment, the Equal Rights Center (ERC) has launched a new initiative aimed at
eliminating this form of discrimination. The initiative began after three
ERC members who use wheelchairs called the ERC to report denial of services,
inaccessible tables, and inadequate lifting practices at medical clinics in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State></st1:place>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“The inaccessibility of basic medical equipment, such as
examination tables, seriously compromises the quality of care individuals with
disabilities receive,” said ERC Executive Director, <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Don Kahl</st1:PersonName>. “Not providing equal
preventative and urgent care services to a large segment of our population is
not only illegal but also a disservice to our entire
country.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>These complaints are not the first encountered by the ERC in addressing
accessibility barriers. In 2005 the ERC advocated for accessible medical
facilities and reached a settlement with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Washington</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Hospital</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, which mandated
that medical facilities, such as examination rooms, examination tables and
other medical equipment be made accessible. The settlement also addressed
inadequacies in policies and procedures to ensure that patients with
disabilities receive the assistance they need to eat, drink, and otherwise care
for themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“A health center should be a place of safe harbor for all
individuals,” said <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Jennifer Wolfsheimer</st1:PersonName>,
the ERC’s Disability Rights Manager. “Equal treatment at
health centers not only improves the wellbeing of the individuals who visit,
but also improves the lives of the entire community through a more healthy and
active citizenry.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In an effort to ensure people with disabilities do not encounter
similar forms of discrimination, the ERC has began an initiative to educate
people with disabilities about their rights and health care providers about
their responsibilities and, when necessary, advocacy and enforcement directed
at those who violate the laws protecting people with disabilities. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If you or anyone you know has encountered accessibility issues at a
health facility or if you would like to get involved in this initiative please
contact <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Jennifer Wolfsheimer</st1:PersonName> at
202-370-3210 or <a href="mailto:jwolfsheimer@equalrightscenter.org">jwolfsheimer@equalrightscenter.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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