Accessibility & Health

July 2025

Public agencies must ensure their programs and services are accessible to people with disabilities. If many changes are needed, and there aren't enough resources to do them all at once, the work can be done over time. Budget changes—up or down—can affect what gets done each year. What seemed too costly during a tough economic time might become possible when funding improves.

That's why it's important for agencies to regularly review what they can do to improve access—and to involve people with disabilities in setting priorities.

Here are some ideas how you might involve people with disabilities in improving health department accessibility:

Community Engagement and Input

1. Create an Accessibility Advisory Committee. Form a group of people with various disabilities, caregivers, and advocates to provide regular feedback on accessibility plans and priorities.
2. Host Listening Sessions or Town Halls. Hold in-person and virtual meetings where people with disabilities can share their experiences, challenges, and suggestions. Provide ASL interpretation, captioning, and accessible materials.
3. Conduct Surveys. Distribute surveys in multiple accessible formats (digital, large print, screen-reader-friendly) to gather feedback about current barriers and needed improvements.
4. Partner with Local Disability Organizations. Collaborate with groups that already have trusted relationships with the disability community to help reach more people and co-host engagement events.

Facility & Program Evaluation

1. Include People with Disabilities in Accessibility Walkthroughs. Invite individuals with different disabilities to join staff in assessing the accessibility of buildings, clinics, waiting areas, signage, etc.
2. Test Online Services with Disabled Users. Involve people with visual, hearing, cognitive, and motor disabilities in testing online forms, appointment systems, and health information sites.

Planning and Decision-Making

1. Include Disabled Community Members in Strategic Planning. Invite them to co-create accessibility goals as part of broader department planning or health equity efforts.
2. Use Participatory Budgeting. Let community members, including those with disabilities, help decide how to allocate funds for accessibility improvements.

Ongoing Engagement and Accountability

1. Offer Paid Advisory Roles. Compensate disabled individuals for their time and expertise when serving on boards, panels, or consulting on projects.
2. Publish Progress Updates and Invite Feedback. Regularly share updates on inclusion goals and ask for ongoing community input on what’s working or what still needs to change.

Have you seen these documents created to help you navigate disability accessibility in your work? Here they are if you missed them.

Building Inclusive Connections: A Guide for Respectful Interaction with People with Disabilities 

Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Guidelines