Sec. 2. Findings
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Congress finds the following: In the United States, approximately 1 in 4 adults have some type of disability, more than 1 in 10 individuals with disabilities can become pregnant, and over 4,100,000 people are parents with disabilities. All people, including individuals with disabilities, have the right to decide if, when, and how to start and raise a family as well as have healthy pregnancies and postpartum periods. Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq. and 12181 et seq.), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794 ), and section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18116 ) provide individuals with disabilities with the right to equitably access and receive health care.
Disabled people face unique barriers when accessing reproductive health care, including accessibility issues at health care facilities, lack of accessible medical diagnostic equipment, barriers to accessible travel, delay in receiving preventative services, and lack of health care providers with training and knowledge on the needs of individuals with disabilities receiving reproductive health care. Reproductive health care is critical to a person’s long-term health. Disabled people have higher mortality rates from reproductive related cancers often due to lack of access to reproductive health care.
The United States Access Board has established standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment; however without enforceable standards adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice, systemic improvements in the availability of accessible medical diagnostic equipment will not be achieved. Disabled people have an equal right to reproductive autonomy, but harmful stereotypes about people with disabilities create barriers to getting care that respects that autonomy.
Laws that restrict access to reproductive health care, including abortion care, disproportionally harm people who already face barriers to reproductive health care, which includes disabled people. Individuals with and without disabilities want children at the same frequency, but individuals with disabilities are less likely to receive contraception counseling and timely prenatal care, experience a higher rate of sterilization, and are at a greater risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Diversity and inclusion in the health care workforce is a critical factor in the delivery of high-quality, culturally competent health care and improves patient outcomes. However, the rate of students and trainees with disabilities in medical and allied health education remains low compared to those without disabilities.
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