Do you need better medical care? Are you a person with a disability? You may be able to help us with a hospital access project. We will look at hospitals in six Illinois counties. These counties are Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and McHenry counties.

People with disabilities often have problems getting medical care. The problem can be physical. It can also be about attitudes or communication. Here are some examples of problems.

• For people who have trouble moving and use a wheelchair or scooter: Small exam rooms that make it hard to move around. No equipment to help you onto an exam table. Exam tables that are too high.
• For people who can’t talk, have problems speaking or people who have a mental illness: Waiting a long time between the day you make an appointment and the day you see a doctor. Being told to see a pediatrician, even if you are an adult. Being sent home early by the hospital.
  
• For people who are blind or have low vision: Being told that your service animal is not allowed. Not being able to get information in accessible formats. Not having signs in Braille or with raised letters.
  
• For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing: No American Sign Language interpreters to help you. Not being offered assistive listening devices. Doctors and staff using your family members to speak with you.

Hospital Outeach Flyer (English) (Spanish)

Sarah Price, Equip for Equality, (312) 341-0022, ext. 7339, toll free 800-537-2632, ext. 7339, toll free TTY 800-610-2779, or email: sarah@equipforequality.org.

Andrés J. Gallegos, Robbins, Salomon and Patt, Ltd., (312) 456-0381 or email: agallegos@rsplaw.com.

All conversations are private and confidential.