Your Wellness Facility May Not Be As Accessible As You Think
With 1 in 4 Americans living with a physical or sensory disability, it’s essential for healthcare providers to effectively communicate with and care for patients who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a disability.
Keith offers personalized coaching and interactive team presentations to equip your staff with the tools and strategies needed to provide inclusive, equitable care.
Ability Together is here to help you meet your patients’ needs and set a new standard for accessibility.
You Said We Need This, Now Let’s Make It Happen – Together
We surveyed you, the local California community of medical providers, and your staff. We asked how you felt about providing services to people who are Deaf, hard-of-hearing, or have disabilities.
This is what you told us:
93%
…believe you would benefit from education on providing such services.
73%
…are interested in receiving training on how to best provide services.
67%
…believe your medical facility is unable to meet these communities’ needs.
More than 1 in 4 adults in the United States have some type of disability. About 11 million are deaf or hard of hearing.
Help Us Make the World a More Accessible Place for Everyone
Mission Statement
Our Commitment to Accessibility
Our mission is to empower people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, individuals with disabilities, their caregivers, and the community through education, resources, and support. We are committed to promoting equity and access in health and wellness spaces, challenging disparities, and promoting diversity to create more inclusive and equitable environments.
About Us
Ability Together’s Roots
Our founder, Keith Bonchek, never thought he’d become a public speaker. But when he was asked by a special education teacher how to speak to a person who is Deaf, the roots for Ability Together began to form. Keith’s powerful story continues to be the driving force behind our mission.
Our Programs
This Is How We Do It
The results from our recent survey solidify the need for education and training when it comes to creating accessible and equitable spaces for people with disabilities and individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
Not only do you, as providers, want and need this, but your patients do, too.
The findings of Individuals with disabilities, individuals who are Deaf/HOH and their caregivers showed:
- 100% Believed there should be guidelines for medical staff to have effective communication with their communities.
- 64% Believed the medical facility is unable to meet their needs.
This information confirms a communal willingness to receive as well as the need for such services. They incentivize Ability Together to stay on target and deliver advocacy work through educational and training services.
Crack the door open for other people … each little bit will make a difference for those behind you.
Find the Program That’s Right for You
People First Language (PFL)
PFL is a tool to help us all maintain human connection! This program will teach your wellness facility staff how to use effective language that puts the individual first, not the disability.
People First Healthcare (PFH)
PFH breaks down barriers, challenges biases, and empowers advocacy for all. This training will teach your organization how to create accessible, inclusive healthcare experiences.
Custom Accessibility Training
Learn how accessibility, equity, and employment drive success for all. This program will empower your organization with inclusive strategies for Deaf/HOH and disabled communities based on your specific needs.
We CAN and MUST Do Better
These companies have made accessibility a priority, will you?
So Much Insight
CIR had the privilege of having Keith speak for us last year, Keith is engaging, funny, and gives so much insight into the difficulties the deaf and hard of hearing community faces when navigating the medical system.
Crystal C.
Associate Director Center for Innovation and Resources, Inc.
Blog
Stories and Articles to Inspire, Educate and Share Ideas
Read through eye-opening stories, advice, and resources that publicize things we don’t often talk or think about. You’ll discover ways to make simple changes that benefit all.
Bridging Culture and Law: The ADA and the Deaf Community
There is a fundamental tension in disability advocacy: the difference between a legal status and a cultural identity.
The ADA Today: Recent Changes and the Future of Accessibility
The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed in 1990, before most people used websites, mobile apps, online patient portals, or digital forms. Recent updates to
The History of the ADA: Disability Rights Are Civil Rights
On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. It was a major moment in American history, but the work behind it had
Join Us in Building an Accessible Future
Support our mission to make healthcare and wellness facilities more equitable and accessible for people with disabilities and the Deaf community. Every dollar helps.
