Training obstetric clinicians to reduce ableism and improve pregnancy care for people with disabilities

A Continuing Education Intervention to Address Ableism Among Obstetric Clinicians Providing Perinatal Care

['FUNDING_R01'] · BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11162505

This program creates online training to help obstetric clinicians provide more respectful, accessible, and supportive care for pregnant people with disabilities.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorBRANDEIS UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (WALTHAM, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11162505 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Researchers will co-design an online continuing-education course with disabled parents and obstetric clinicians to teach inclusive communication, accessible clinical practices, and strategies to remove discriminatory barriers. The training will cover use of accessible equipment, respectful decision-making, and culturally sensitive care for disabled people, including those who are multiply marginalized. The course will be offered through continuing medical education channels and tested with obstetric clinicians to refine content and delivery. The overall aim is to change clinician attitudes and routines so routine prenatal, birth, and postpartum care is safer and more welcoming for disabled pregnant people.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Pregnant people or those planning pregnancy who have physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities and receive obstetric care from participating clinicians are the primary beneficiaries.

Not a fit: People whose clinicians do not take the training or whose care needs fall entirely outside obstetric services are unlikely to see direct benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the training could make prenatal, labor, and postpartum care more respectful, accessible, and safer for pregnant people with disabilities.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has documented care gaps and recommendations, but formal continuing-education programs specifically targeting ableism in obstetrics are novel and have had limited prior testing.

Where this research is happening

WALTHAM, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.