ADA National Network Learning Session: Personal Experiences with Healthcare Barriers & the ADA: A Panel Discussion

Healthcare is often difficult and unequal for people with disabilities. In this session, a panel of three women with disabilities – two who use wheelchairs and one who is Hard-of-Hearing – share their personal experiences with healthcare. Each presenter will share an example of a great healthcare experience and a challenging healthcare experience. The panel will then discuss how the ADA either should have improved the challenging experience or was used to support a positive healthcare outcome.

 Learning Objectives:

• Engage in a discussion with examples of positive and negative healthcare experiences for people with disabilities
• Learn about examples of challenges that people with disabilities face when receiving healthcare and potential solutions

Speakers:

Cynde Soto is a native Californian born with Arthrogryposis, a connective tissue disorder and she also sustained a spinal cord injury 20 years ago. Currently, she works as a Systems Change Coordinator for an Independent Living Center in Los Angeles. At this time she continues her advocacy work to promote accessibility throughout her community.

Cynde says her job, “enables her to work for positive policy change concerning people with disabilities. It is important to increase civic participation through community organizing, education and advocacy around issues that affect our community.” Leadership development is also a crucial element of Systems Change by working with clients at the agency she works for and beyond.

Christy Abrams is the Hard of Hearing Specialist with the State of Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing. Navigating severe bilateral hearing loss since the age of 6, she is passionate about hearing loss, equal access, and effective communication. As a member of the Hard of Hearing Program team, she leads the Hard of Hearing Task Force, presents training sessions for consumers, employers, healthcare and public safety professionals, and organizations across Arizona. Christy works one-on-one with hard of hearing consumers every day, providing them with information and resources so that they may live independent and empowered lives.

Jan Garrett currently serves as the Deputy Director for the Pacific ADA Center at the Public Health Institute (PHI). She is the lead trainer, oversees all the Center’s Training and TA efforts, and approves all curricula.

Before joining PHI, Jan worked as a disability civil rights lawyer and served as the Executive Director of the Berkeley Center for Independent Living (CIL). A CIL is a disability-led organization that provides services for people with all types of disabilities. In her prior work and work with the Center, Jan has over 25 years of experience providing guidance and training on the ADA and other disability rights laws. As a person with a disability, Jan has a deeply personal understanding of why disability civil rights are so important.