Fostering Inclusivity for Clients with Disabilities: Universal Design in Family Therapy

Over a quarter of adults in the United States live with a disability. Historically, disability was contextualized from the lens of a medical model, which identifies disability solely as impairment for the individual and should be treated or eradicated. Individuals with disabilities have been seen as abnormal and a threat to the family system. Critical Disability Theory challenges this thought by suggesting that disability is a social construct in which one's environment prioritizes able bodies. Although numerous accommodations have been mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the environment of an individual living with disabilities frequently fails to meet their needs, including the family therapy office. Universal Design (UD) is a design strategy that increases access for individuals of all abilities, mental states, and learning types. Utilizing UD principles in family therapy settings can increase client engagement, representation, and learning in a in a safe, accessible environment.