A woman with cerebral palsy sits in the waiting room, preparing to see her physician at a specialty clinic for disability and rehabilitation. Should she risk discussing her sexual health with someone who assumes she has only male lovers, if any? Across town, an older woman waits in a LGBT- friendly health clinic. Because she is in a wheelchair and has difficulty moving her upper body, she is worried that they will be unable to accommodate her with the standard equipment usually used for the exam. Should she put off the mammography again? A third woman waits to be called to see the nurse practitioner at a well-known women’s health clinic. She is anxious about whether the practitioner will be aware of, and sensitive to, issues related to her being a lesbian and a person who is blind. But where else can she go?
Unfortunately, there are few places in our community where disabled lesbians know that they are welcome and understood. Many disabled women are afraid of being “out” about their disabilities, and those who can hide often do. Disability can take many forms-;it can be physical or cognitive; long-term or short-term; obvious or hidden; occur at birth, or be related to a later injury or illness, or to aging. Sooner or later, everyone will have at least a close connection to someone who is living with a disability. The lesbian and disability communities have a lot to offer, and to learn from, each other. Whether it’s advising a friend about resources for dealing with an aging parent, or finding in-home assistants for a lover who is ill, most disabled lesbians have experience in finding scarce or little-known resources.
Unfortunately, having a disability can be a detriment to getting appropriate health services. For disabled lesbians to feel safe and included, the community needs to demonstrate its support through outreach efforts, research, and advocacy. Full accessibility goes beyond ramps or a “good attitude.” Clinics that advertise access, have staff who are knowledgeable about disability, hire disabled lesbians, ensure program resources are available in alternate formats, and provide educational resources addressing lesbian disability issues clearly communicate that are accessible.
Programs in the Chicago area that are designed to be both disability and lesbian-friendly include the Chicago Women’s Health Center and the Health Resource Center for Women with Disabilities (at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.) The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities can offer assistance to both health providers and consumers in understanding the rights of disabled people under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as provide information about resources in Chicago.