Accessible Medical Care: Your Patient Rights under Title III of the ADA
Avoidable design flaws in medical settings can make accessing care a struggle for people with mobility disabilities.
When Sarah first accompanied her aging mother, who has a mobility impairment, to a healthcare appointment, she quickly realized the barriers people with disabilities often face in medical settings. The doctor’s office was located in an older building with narrow hallways and a small elevator in which Sarah struggled to maneuver her mother's wheelchair. After waiting in the exam room, Sarah noticed her mother’s growing frustration as she was unable to transfer onto the exam table, which was fixed at a standard height. This left her mother stuck in her wheelchair for the entire appointment, which visibly affected the quality of care she received. The doctor was unable to conduct a thorough examination and thus couldn’t properly assess the mother’s condition due to the limitations of the space and equipment, and the mother’s frustration caused her to forget to report specific symptoms. As a result, the doctor missed important details in her diagnosis, leading to delayed treatment and worsening of her condition over time.
This too-common scenario highlights how avoidable design flaws in medical settings can make accessing care a struggle for people with mobility disabilities. From navigating inaccessible buildings to using medical equipment that isn’t designed to accommodate mobility challenges, these obstacles can have a significant impact on the healthcare experience.
Millions of Americans with mobility disabilities still struggle to receive proper health care, even though Title III of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides clear legal safeguards for patients. ADA rights to available medical care extend beyond simple building access, covering everything from exam equipment to the way healthcare providers communicate with patients.
Title III of the ADA offers specific guarantees that can help you promote proper medical care and protect yourself against unfair treatment. At the Association for Equal Access, we strive to explain your protected rights as a patient and discuss solutions to common barriers you might face, including practical steps to handle ADA violations in medical facilities.
Title III Guarantees for Patients
"The ADA requires that healthcare entities provide full and equal access for people with disabilities." — ADA National Network
The ADA’s Title III labels private healthcare providers as "places of public accommodation." These include private hospitals, medical offices, pharmacies, and all other healthcare businesses that serve the public, no matter their size or number of employees. It also guarantees that people with disabilities receive "full and equal enjoyment" of place of public accommodation. As such, healthcare providers must:
Make reasonable modifications to their policies, practices, and procedures needed for accessibility
Deliver effective communication through aids like sign language interpreters or written materials in different formats
Remove easy-to-fix architectural and communication barriers in current facilities
Use fair eligibility criteria that don't exclude people with disabilities
Title III’s protections have some limits. Healthcare providers can skip certain requirements if they can show:
The change would create an "undue burden" financially
The accommodation would "fundamentally alter" their services
A "direct threat" exists to others' health or safety that reasonable changes can't fix
How Title III Differs from Other Disability Laws
Title III works among other disability laws; each has its own coverage and ways to enforce:
ADA Title II vs. Title III: Title II covers public (government-operated) healthcare facilities, while Title III handles private providers that serve the public.
Rehabilitation Act Section 504: This only applies to healthcare providers that receive federal funds, such as from Medicare or Medicaid, but Title III applies to all providers, regardless of funding.
Affordable Care Act Section 1557: This curbs discrimination based on disability and other protected traits in health programs that receive federal funds.
Fair Housing Act: This law covers residential facilities that Title III might miss.
Title III focuses on fixing problems through "reasonable modifications" rather than special treatment. Healthcare providers must prove why they can't provide an accommodation, even though they have some defenses available.
Common Accessibility Barriers in Medical Settings
"Telehealth has the potential to decrease healthcare disparities for patients with disabilities, as it reduces transportation barriers, but it can also increase disparities.” — Disability Equity Collaborative
Basic accessibility problems plague many facilities. Older buildings have steps at entrances, doors that are too narrow, and not enough space for wheelchairs to turn. Most exam rooms have tables fixed at standard heights that patients can't transfer to easily. Medical staff often end up examining patients in their wheelchairs, a practice that dilutes the quality of care.
The size and complexity of hospitals create even bigger accessibility challenges. Recent studies of hospital operations show problems are systemic for people with limited mobility. Many legal settlements now require hospitals to upgrade patient rooms, create accessible spaces, remove barriers, buy proper equipment, and hire ADA compliance officers. Further, physical barriers in emergency departments can slow down urgently needed treatment.
Telehealth seemed like an answer for patients with mobility issues but brought new accessibility challenges. Digital barriers include websites that screen readers can't process, video platforms without interpreter support, missing captions, poor color contrast, and navigation that only works with a mouse. The U.S. Department of Justice says these issues violate Title III rules.
Real-World Solutions: Successful Accommodation Advocacy
Healthcare providers have shown how proper equipment, communication tools, and policy changes remove barriers for patients with disabilities. These real-life examples highlight solutions that work well in healthcare settings.
The U.S. Access Board's 2017 standards for Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment created vital design criteria that changed patient care. Height-adjustable examination tables can lower to within 17 to 19 inches from the floor so patients can transfer independently from wheelchairs. Tables need a 30-inch minimum width, 15-inch minimum depth transfer surfaces, and support rails that hold 250 pounds of force.
Women with mobility disabilities can now use mammography equipment with positioning supports. Patient lifts and weight scales with large platform surfaces let patients get examined with dignity. Staff no longer need to lift patients manually, which reduces workplace injuries and helps more patients access care.
Taking Action: Steps to Address ADA Violations
Patient rights under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act need your active involvement. The ADA works through a complaint-based system. Healthcare facilities might continue discriminatory practices if people don't take action against violations. You can often get faster results by trying to solve issues informally before filing official complaints:
Speak directly with the healthcare facility's management about the specific ADA violation.
Request reasonable modifications in writing and clearly state your disability-related needs.
Use internal grievance procedures if they exist—this matters most for state and local government facilities that must have ADA coordinators.
Document all communication with dates, names, and what was discussed.