I used to dread going to the optometrist for my annual exam, but not anymore. My optometrist made his practice accessible, and that made a big difference for me and other people with disabilities who visit him.

Healthy Living

I am very health conscious. Healthy living is a main priority for me. I want to maintain a good quality of life as I grow older. I know that having regular check-ups, especially for people with disabilities, is necessary to maintain good health. But I know that many people don't look after their health.

I used to question people's common sense when they would complain about having to go to a doctor or dentist for a check-up. But I never stopped to think about their reasons for not wanting to make sure they were in good health. In my work at the Central Coast Center for Independent Living, I learned that people neglect their health for a variety of reasons including lack of information, medical insurance, access to heath facilities and language barriers, among others.

Dr. Estrada's Accessible Office

I have been a wheelchair user for 13 years. In that time I have had terrible experiences going to some doctor offices because of the lack of accessibility. In the rural area where I live, it is difficult to find accessible medical facilities.

Four years ago I needed to see an optometrist so I went to visit Doctor Joseph Estrada. I was surprised to find that the office building was accessible, but his examination room was not. I had a difficult exam on that visit.

A year later when I went for my annual exam, Dr. Estrada had moved to a different office and purchased portable equipment to make his practice more accessible. He also decided to make house calls for people with limited mobility. I was shocked to see the doctor's assistant move an automated examination chair so I could back my wheelchair into the examination space. This made my exam much easier because I did not have to transfer from my wheelchair to the examination chair. Now that is what I call accessibility!

I hope that someday people in the medical field will become more aware of the needs of people with disabilities and make their offices and examination rooms accessible. Unfortunately, until that day comes many will choose to skip the hassle of visiting the doctor instead of tending to their health.

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