Removing Barriers in Graduate Health Education for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities continue to face barriers in graduate health education academic programs. As the number of enrolled students with disabilities increases, it is imperative that solutions are identified that remove these barriers to create inclusive and accessible learning opportunities. This study presents a narrative review of literature that examines current research on the topic of graduate health education and disability. Results identified four relevant themes for reducing barriers and improving inclusive access for students with disabilities. The themes include the need for modifying technical standards, faculty training, reasonable accommodations, and Universal Design of Learning (UDL). The findings are relevant for faculty, disability services staff, and program leaders in professional medical and health education programs. Results provide strategies for increasing access for students with disabilities by creating inclusive and accessible learning opportunities.