Physical and Programmatic Accessibility of British Alcohol/Other Drug Treatment Centers

Abstract

Recent research from Canada and the United States has found that physical and programmatic access barriers are common in substance abuse treatment facilities and that such barriers directly lead to service denials to select groups of persons with disabilities (PWDs). This pilot study sought to examine such issues in a sample of substance abuse treatment providers in Great Britain. Barriers to both physical and programmatic access were common and were found at rates that generally exceeded those of earlier Canadian and U.S. studies. The vast majority of centers failed to have staff capable of using sign language, nor did they have written materials in Braille or alternate formats for persons with varying cognitive ability. Likewise, physical accessibility was lacking, with most failing to have accessible restrooms and bathing facilities and large numbers did not have accessible entrances and parking. Such extensive barriers to access could effectively prohibit the ability of select PWDs from entering treatment.