The Need for More Inclusive Dental Clinics by Michelle Zeman

 





In March 2024, the University of Illinois-Chicago opened an inclusive dental clinic designed specifically for people with disabilities. This facility features a desensitization room for patients experiencing anxiety, specialized equipment that allows individuals with physical disabilities to receive care without leaving their wheelchairs, and wider hallways to ensure safe and accessible movement throughout the clinic. Currently, the clinic serves up to 28 patients per day, with future plans to introduce virtual visits for those unable to travel in person.

It’s encouraging to see a dental practice committed to creating a safe and accommodating space for people with disabilities. Unfortunately, such inclusive clinics remain rare.

Personally, I’ve always disliked going to the dentist—the loud noises, bright lights, needles, and overall invasiveness of the experience make it something I avoid whenever possible. While I can tolerate a visit when necessary, I can’t help but wonder if my feelings toward dental care would have been different had I been exposed to a more inclusive and sensory-friendly environment growing up.

In my work with individuals with disabilities, I’ve encountered very few clients who actually enjoy going to the dentist. More often, I hear concerns from families about their loved ones having meltdowns, needing to be restrained in a chair, or requiring anesthesia to get through an appointment. For many, the experience is so distressing that they avoid it altogether.

While Chicago’s new clinic is a step in the right direction, it highlights the lack of similar facilities nationwide. Here in Florida, some dental practices advertise themselves as “special needs friendly,” but long waitlists make access difficult, and there’s no guarantee they have the necessary accommodations. I sincerely hope to see more truly inclusive dental clinics in the future—because, for many, a simple trip to the dentist remains an overwhelming and inaccessible experience.


Resources:

New inclusive dental clinic at UIC an ‘oasis’ for patients with special needs: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/09/20/new-inclusive-dental-clinic-at-uic-an-oasis-for-patients-with-special-needs/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Life Behind the Camera: Observing the Neurotypical World from the Autism Spectrum By: Michelle Zeman

Image
  Imagine that you are a photographer covering a story. You aren't the story's subject - your only purpose is to zoom in, adjust the settings, and click the button. The subject(s) of the photo are the story - they know what to expect and how to respond given the situation. However, you're not in the picture as the photographer - you're just observing. You aren't asked to be in the photo, let alone be involved in the story, outside of clicking the button. You see the final image, and you publish it online, and when people see it, they comment on the people within the photo and the event that occurred. That is what life is like from my perspective of being on the Autism spectrum - I am on the outside looking into neurotypical life.   Growing up, I didn't have many friends. In elementary school, I went to a Christian school. You would be incorrect if you think a Christian school is different from a public school in terms of how friendships are created. There w...
Read more

Sad Times in Ocala, Florida Reflect Overall Poor Treatment of The Disabled Community in America Today

 The movie-going experience has been part of American life for decades now. At the same time, being disabled has also been a part of the human experience since the beginning of time. This piece will address the idea that although we are thirty-four years into the ADA era, movie theaters in Ocala, Florida, demonstrate how little respect people with disabilities have earned in thirty-four years. Over the weekend, I was treating my friend/caregiver, who I will call Jane, on a trip to the movies for her 24 th birthday. She was nice enough to not only drive my van for only the 10 th time since she started working with me but also because my power wheelchair broke several weeks ago and there was a delay in the delivery process of my new chair; she was willing to push me around. The first of many problems we encountered that day occurred when we got to the front door. It was only then we noticed that even though disabled people do go to places by themselves without caregivers or atten...
Read more

The Movie “Conclave” Makes Me Rethink the Concept of Acceptance and How It Applies to My Own Life: By Jason Hahr

This post comes with a note to readers. This may or may not make complete sense. This post comes from a perspective of being stuck in my head. As much as I use this blog to teach and inform, this time, I am using it as a therapy tool as well. When I ask you, the readers, a question, please know that I am questioning you and my own subconscious. Now that I have said all of that, here we go. Initially, I was going to write a post about a movie I recently saw called “Conclave.” On the surface, the film has nothing to do with disability or disability-related issues. Still, if one looks deeper, one can see that the movie is about both self-acceptance and being accepted by others. I will not go into the movie's plot because, like I said, this is not a film review. I only reference it because it got me thinking. For eleven years now, I’ve been an outspoken voice for The Voiceless Minority, of which I am a member. However, I wonder if I have been an adequate advocate for people with disabi...
Read more