To be fully accessible to the disabled, a program must address four areas: 1) architectural accessibility 2) programmatic accessibility 3) communications accessibility 4) attitudinal accessibility. Very few substance abuse treatment programs are fully accessible. In 1992 with the advent of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a few people took action in the form of civil rights law suits, in an effort to force state agencies and providers to treat substance abusers with disabilities. In Massachusetts, the community base substance abuse providers were over whelmed, unprepared and in some cases unwilling when presented with a plan developed by their state funding agency for complete accessibility of their program in 5 years. The problems that the providers where dealing with included: 1) lack of information about disability, 2) fear of disabled clients, 3) lack of funds for making needed architectural improvements, 4) restrictive state laws which limit fund raising, 5) negative stereotyping of recovering people by neighborhoods and city government which made relocation nearly impossible. Despite the problems involved, Massachusetts providers became 85-90% accessible. But, constant training and monitoring is needed to maintain the progress that was made and Massachusetts no longer has that. Nation wide much needs to be done.
Learning Objectives: To help public health providers to be sensitized to the problems facing substance abuse providers treating people with disabilities
Keywords: Disability, Substance Abuse
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Granada House
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.