Primer on disability: Why accessibility is important for all medical physicists.

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Workforce Diversity
• Inclusion

Background:

• Disability and accessibility are under-addressed in the workforce, including medical physics.
• The proportion of disabled individuals in medical physics mirrors the general US population.
• Addressing these issues aligns with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine's diversity and inclusion goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• Provide guidance on disability and accessibility in medical physics.
• Offer recommendations on legal compliance, accommodation requests, and appropriate language.
• Apply disability concepts to enhance productivity, attract talent, and promote leadership.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of disability topics relevant to medical physics.
• Inclusion of background information: definitions, models, and classifications of disability.
• Application of disability concepts to professional settings.

Main Results:

• Provides an overview of current knowledge and recommendations.
• Offers practical guidance on essential disability-related topics.
• Highlights benefits of inclusive practices for efficiency and talent acquisition.

Conclusions:

• Integrating disability and accessibility is crucial for equity and inclusion in medical physics.
• Adopting inclusive practices can improve professional environments and outcomes.
• This review serves as a resource for individuals and organizations in the field.