Understanding how medical ableism affects the health of people with disabilities

Disability Perspectives on the Adverse Health Effects of Medical Ableism

NIH-funded research Washington State University · NIH-11158936

This project explores how negative attitudes and lack of accommodations in healthcare settings impact the health and care experiences of people with disabilities.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWashington State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pullman, United States)
Project IDNIH-11158936 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project aims to understand how widespread ableist attitudes and lack of accommodations in healthcare settings affect people with physical, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, and learning disabilities. We plan to create and distribute surveys to gather detailed information directly from patients about their experiences with medical ableism. This will help us identify specific ways these experiences negatively impact their healthcare and overall health. Our goal is to build a clear and comprehensive picture of medical ableism to eventually create better ways to support disabled patients and improve their health outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 and older who have physical, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, or learning disabilities and have experienced medical ableism.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have disabilities or have not experienced medical ableism may not directly benefit from this particular research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to targeted interventions that improve healthcare experiences and health outcomes for people with disabilities.

How similar studies have performed: While research shows ableist attitudes are common, this project is novel in its detailed quantitative measurement of how these experiences directly affect patient care and health outcomes.

Where this research is happening

Pullman, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.