Your Words Matter: Avoiding Ableism, and Using Language as a Care Tool-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The video transcript discusses a presentation focused on disability rights and ableism in the medical field, led by Saloni Sharma and a team of experts from various universities. The session covers the history and evolution of disability rights, touching on significant milestones like the introduction of Braille, the Smith-Vest Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is a focus on improving communication and providing tools to aid medical professionals in better serving patients with disabilities. The presentation highlights the importance of recognizing biases, addressing misconceptions, and avoiding microaggressions in healthcare. It underscores the need for educating medical staff about disabilities, ensuring accessibility in healthcare environments, and fostering inclusive practices. The session also reviews educational tools and references that can help address implicit biases and support better patient-physician interactions. By using video vignettes, the presentation showcases real-life scenarios of ableism, encouraging self-reflection and discussion among participants. Personal stories, such as those of Dr. Rachel Cowan, reflect the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, emphasizing the need for systemic changes to reduce ableism in healthcare. The audience is encouraged to consider how healthcare policies and the physical layout of medical facilities can create barriers. The panelists emphasize the importance of advocacy, continuous education, and developing a deeper understanding of patients’ needs to improve overall healthcare experiences for those with disabilities.

Keywords

disability rights

ableism

medical field

Saloni Sharma

Braille

Americans with Disabilities Act

communication tools

biases

microaggressions

inclusive practices

patient-physician interactions