ABSTRACT
The undergraduate curriculum for healthcare workers should address the health needs of people with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to bring experiences of teaching offered on disability in medical schools around the world. Examples were identified through literature research. We found different approaches to teaching about disability: lectures, panels, workshops, history taking and visits to services supporting people with disabilities. Some aimed to build general specific knowledge of common disability; others, to promote positive attitudes and commitment to care for people with disabilities; or to develop skills for patient-centered care. According to each medical school, activities took place in the beginning, middle or at the end of the course. An implementation planned over the whole medical school curriculum was barely seen. People with disabilities, their families and caregivers participate as teachers, standardized patients, standardized patient educators, panelists and tutors. We hope this research will support efforts to better prepare future physicians to care for patients with disabilities.
Medical Education; Disabled Persons; Health Care