For Many Disabled Patients, the Doctor Is Often Not In
Some doctors avoid patients with disabilities, advocates say. And even when they don't, barriers to routine care abound.
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Some doctors avoid patients with disabilities, advocates say. And even when they don't, barriers to routine care abound.
Dec. 27, 2020 5:00 pm ET When Matthew Thompson graduated from high school in 2010, his parents were apprehensive about his next steps. Matthew has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, an incurable condition that causes progressive weakness in the body, and requires help carrying out daily activities like brushing his teeth. But like any young adult, he wanted some form of independence. His father, Rick Thompson, set out to find a residential facility for young adults with physical disabilities. He came back empty-handed: Most places he came across catered to seniors or people with int...