Reassessing physical disability among graduating US medical students

Before the 1970s, many potential college and graduate students were denied admission or prevented from graduating because of their disabilities. Legislation such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has sought to end such discrimination. In two previous studies, the proportion of graduating medical students with physical disabilities (MSPD) was found to be 0.23% (1980) and 0.19% (1990). This study sought to learn what effect passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has had on the graduation of MSPD and the proportion of MSPD whose physical disability was identified before or after admission to medical school.

A questionnaire was sent to the deans of student affairs at all accredited medical schools in the United States (n = 123) to determine the proportion of MSPD who graduated during the years 2002-2005 and the onset of disabilities, either before or after admission to medical school.

The proportion of graduating MSPD was 0.15%. Furthermore, proportionately fewer graduating MSPD had preexisting physical disability in our study than in the study by Wu et al.

The findings suggest a continuing decline in the proportion of graduating MSPD. Implications of these findings are discussed.