Care coordination for a person with disabilities should begin with that person's goals, preferences and account of what makes care accessible. A diagnosis or disability label does not specify the support required for every appointment.
The Administration for Community Living describes person-centered planning as a process directed by the person receiving support. It identifies strengths, goals, medical and community-support needs, and preferences. Participation remains important when a legal representative is involved.
Address the person directly
Ask how the person wants to communicate and whom they want involved. Allow time for their response, and use the agreed communication support.
A companion may help with travel, communication or another task. That role should not automatically be treated as authority to make healthcare decisions. ACL notes that a chosen representative may or may not have legal decision-making authority. Clarify roles through the appropriate local process.
Department of Justice guidance on accessible medical care advises speaking directly to the patient and asking what assistance is needed and how best to provide it.
Plan the encounter before arrival
Clarify the practical requirements of the visit with the patient and receiving service. For a person with mobility needs, this may involve an accessible route, appropriate examination equipment and staff prepared to assist safely.
DOJ guidance recommends identifying assistance needs when scheduling and preparing the necessary room, equipment and staff. A patient should not be required to bring someone to supply the provider's reasonable assistance.
This page does not specify equipment dimensions, transfer techniques or compliance deadlines. Those decisions require current standards, trained personnel and the organization's accessibility process.
Carry useful information across settings
With appropriate permission and safeguards, document the accommodation that has been agreed and who will arrange it. “Needs assistance” is less useful than a clear account of what the receiving team has confirmed.
For example, in a fictional referral, a clinic confirms an examination room and equipment suited to the patient's stated needs. If the appointment is moved to another location, that confirmation must be checked again. A booking change should not silently remove an essential arrangement.
Avoid repeatedly asking the person to resolve the same organizational gap. Identify a contact who can follow up with the receiving service.
Review the whole support plan
Ask whether transportation, scheduling, communication formats or community services create additional barriers. Discuss options with the person rather than assuming that a family member can fill every gap.
When an arrangement fails, record the specific barrier and the next action. Escalate unresolved access problems through the service's clinical and accessibility routes.
At follow-up, ask whether the support matched the person's needs and preferences. The useful measure is the person's ability to participate in the planned care, not merely whether an accommodation request was entered.
Ask the patient how they want the next visit arranged. If transportation barriers or inaccessible services prevent it, use community resource referrals to identify a workable alternative and update the shared care plan with the arrangement the patient chose.
Sources
- Person-Centered Planning (accessed 2026-09-17) — Administration for Community Living.
- Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities (accessed 2026-09-17) — U.S. Department of Justice.