Getting inside the building is only the start
When it comes to abortion care, obstacles still exist for those with disabilities when it comes to finding accessible care, travelling to appointments and accessing telehealth services. At Choice in Health we are dedicated to reducing barriers wherever we can.
Our clinic is physically accessible, with ramps at the building entrance, elevator access, and hallways and washrooms that can accommodate most mobility aids; however this is the bare minimum when it comes to access. In fact, the wheelchair symbol, the international symbol for access (ISA), highlights a significant disconnect as 93% of those with disabilities do not use a wheelchair. Many invisible disabilities may not be obvious but deserve to be addressed with the same care and attention.
At Choice in Health Clinic, we welcome clients who use personal assistive devices and aim to support a range of mobility needs. Many clients who use wheelchairs are able to access our services, so long as they can transfer themselves to a procedure bed without assistance. As a smaller clinic, we have some equipment limitations, but we are committed to ensuring everyone receives safe and appropriate care. When more comprehensive support is needed, we coordinate referrals to hospital-based providers to ensure clients get the care that best meets their needs.
Clients are welcome to bring service animals* or support people to assist with communication, mobility, or personal care. We offer free ASL interpretation services and are committed to working with clients to meet individual accommodation needs. We will make every reasonable effort to ensure that clients can access care in their own way, at their own pace, while receiving high-quality care.
Invisible disabilities matter
The diverse experiences of individuals living with invisible disabilities, such as chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, or sensory impairments, shouldn’t be an afterthought and must be given thoughtful consideration when it comes to health care accommodations. In 2018 a European marketing firm, developed the @visability93 campaign to suggest additional access icons beyond the wheelchair symbol and dispel the misconception that someone's external appearance shows whether they are disabled.
At Choice in Health some accessibility supports we provide are:
We are a scent sensitive space, and send reminders to clients ahead of appointments to reduce fragrances that can impact folks with scent sensitivities.
Our waiting room and counselling spaces don’t have overhead fluorescent lighting, instead relying on soft and natural light for those who are light sensitive (also called photophobia) Read our blog about this here.
We have fidget spinners available for anyone who needs them, knowing they can be helpful for individuals with anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
“Ableism is so deeply ingrained into our society that we don’t even know nine times out of ten what is ableist.” – Imani Barbarin
As a clinic we are dedicated to removing barriers to client access, but we know we still have a long way to go. We have ongoing projects to review our accessibility and disability justice commitments, while improving our space and services so that everyone who needs an abortion can access it.
Disability justice is reproductive justice, and we will continue to challenge ableism by ensuring that clients with disabilities receive a high standard of abortion care that acknowledges their lived experience and worthiness.
*Please note that service animals are animals that have been trained to support your disability and should be approved by a regulated health professional. While we acknowledge that animals in general can provide important emotional support, our clinic is only able to accommodate recognized service animals during appointments.