Testimony to the Joint Committee on Public Health
June 1st, 2009

My name is Robbin Miller. I am a healthcare advocate for persons with disabilities. I am supporting Senate Bill 858 to include “Disparities” as part of the work the Health Disparities Council conducts in promoting policy making for ethnic and minority groups.
I have one story to demonstrate on how attitudinal barriers in the healthcare profession can discriminate against persons with disabilities.

Sheba is a 40 year old thin build woman who has Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Sheba told me that one day she went to Boston to get x-rays of her back at an outpatient facility for her doctor who specializes in MS treatments and research. The technician directed Sheba to follow her to the room that would take her x-rays. The technician asked why Sheba did not bring her personal care attendant (PCA) to assist her on the table. Sheba said she was told that she did not have to bring her PCA due to the technician that would assist her instead. Sheba told me that the technician made an angry face at her and said something under her breath. As the technician proceeded to assist Sheba on the table (from her manual wheelchair), Sheba heard the technician moaned several times on how heavy she was and that she needed to lose some weight. Sheba was horrified by these remarks and did not know what to say.

Sheba was afraid to be assertive with this technician for fear of being left on the table with no one to assist her back in her wheelchair. Sheba said she will never go back to this facility due to the verbal abuse she encountered with this technician.
The technician’s actions are unacceptable in mistreating Sheba as a human being. Healthcare facilities that perform outpatient medical services will benefit from receiving disability sensitive training like they do for working with ethnic and minority groups. They will learn how to interact appropriately with persons with disabilities in a professional manner.

I summarize my testimony in asking the Joint Committee on Public Health to support Senate Bill 858 to include “Disabilities” as part of the work that Health Care Disparities Council conducts for ethnic and minority groups. As an advocate, I have offered many healthcare facilities an opportunity to receive a program on “Disability Sensitivity Training” when interacting with persons with disabilities. Unfortunately, their gatekeepers feel that Disability is not a cultural competence. Disability leaders want to let members know of this committee that disability is a culture that needs to be respected equally along with minority and ethnic groups that this council serves.
Respectfully submitted,

Robbin Miller
Advocate