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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Nina Shields, Pro Bono Scholar of the Disability Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI)
1:22:12
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Nina Shields from NYLPI's Disability Justice Program testifies about the barriers to healthcare access for people with disabilities in New York City, despite legal protections. She highlights the need for improvements in physical accessibility, communication methods, and healthcare provider training to ensure equal access to care for individuals with disabilities.
- Nearly one million New Yorkers have a disability, and they face significant obstacles in accessing healthcare, leading to poorer health outcomes.
- Barriers include physical inaccessibility of medical facilities, lack of communication accommodations, and attitudinal barriers from healthcare providers.
- Recommendations include passing a resolution requiring NYC providers to comply with anti-discrimination laws and allocating funding for accessibility improvements in Health + Hospitals facilities.
Nina Shields
1:22:12
Good afternoon Chair Lee and Chair Narcisse.
1:22:15
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
1:22:16
My name is Nina Shields.
1:22:18
I'm a pro bono scholar for the Disability Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.
1:22:23
As you've said, nearly one million New Yorkers have a disability, and anti discrimination laws, including the ADA, require health care providers to ensure full and equal access to medical care for people with disabilities.
1:22:34
Despite these legal protections, individuals with all types of disabilities continue to face impediments to accessing healthcare.
1:22:39
Adults with disabilities are almost twice as likely as others to report unmet healthcare needs due to the inaccessibility of medical offices.
1:22:46
This lack of access leads to poorer health outcomes including higher mortality rates and shorter life expectancies.
1:22:52
For example, although women with disabilities have the same incident rates of breast cancer as women without disabilities, they're one third more likely to die from it due to delayed screening and treatment.
1:23:03
The time for equal accessible healthcare in New York City is long overdue.
1:23:06
Reaching that goal requires addressing the barriers that impede access to care.
1:23:10
These include physical barriers like doorways that are too narrow, exam rooms that are too small, as well as a lack of adapted equipment like accessible scales, exam tables, and diagnostic machines.
1:23:20
They also include communication barriers like failure to provide a sign language interpreter or information in braille or large print.
1:23:27
This failure to accommodate results in medication errors, misdiagnoses, problems during surgery and anesthesia, among others.
1:23:34
Lastly, patients with disabilities face attitudinal barriers from health care providers such as bias and lack of training.
1:23:40
This lack of disability competency degrades quality of care and leads to preventable inequities in health outcomes.
1:23:46
To address these barriers, New York City healthcare facilities must implement changes to their physical structures and equipment, communication methods, and provider training.
1:23:54
Our recommendations to the City Council include passing a resolution requiring New York City providers to comply with anti discrimination laws to ensure equal access and including funding in the budget to assist capital improvements at health and hospitals facilities to increase accessibility.
1:24:10
We're happy to discuss any of these issues further with the council.
1:24:13
If you have any questions, we'll provide more in written testimony.
1:24:16
Thank you.