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October 16, 2025
Speakers: Ashley Hankin OTR/L
Ashley Hankin is an Occupational Therapist with over a decade of experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), complex physical needs, and behavioral health challenges. She began her career as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant after earning her AAS from Nashville State in 2007, later completing her MSOT through Belmont University's bridge program in 2012. Her work spans diverse clinical and community settings, with a focus on inclusive, person-centered practices. With her practical, empowering approach, she is committed to promoting equity and meaningful participation for all.
Learning Objectives:
Following this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify no less than 3 barriers to healthcare access experienced by those with disabilities
- Identify no less than 2 strategies that can be implemented to improve access to services
- Identify at least one common misconception faced by those with disabilities
Course Description: People with disabilities face persistent barriers when accessing healthcare. This presentation examines systemic, physical, and interpersonal obstacles that limit equitable care, including appointment structures that lack adequate time, inaccessible facilities, complex navigation systems, and limited provider knowledge. We will also discuss how healthcare benefit design, crisis standards of care, and frameworks like Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) reinforce exclusion. Lived experiences highlight how professional attitudes create power imbalances that silence patients’ voices. Practical, research-based strategies will be shared to mitigate barriers across settings, along with resources to support advocacy and improve access for individuals with disabilities.