CASE STUDY: Assessment for inclusion: Promoting equity and justice in Disability Assessment Boards in India

Area of Science:

• Medical Education and Disability Law
• Human Rights in Healthcare Access

Background:

• A candidate with 88% mobility disability was denied medical admission by a Disability Assessment Board (DAB).
• Previous legal challenges in the High Court were unsuccessful, necessitating Supreme Court intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the fairness and appropriateness of disability assessment methods in medical admissions.
• To advocate for a shift from a medical model to a human rights model in disability assessment.
• To ensure equitable access to medical education for individuals with disabilities.

Main Methods:

• The Supreme Court ordered a reassessment using an independent functional competency evaluation.
• The new assessment utilized a human rights model, incorporating simulation labs and accommodation discussions.
• The assessment focused on the candidate's abilities and potential clinical accommodations, not solely on the disability.

Main Results:

• The Supreme Court endorsed the functional competency, ability-based assessment approach.
• The Court critiqued existing National Medical Commission guidelines for their inadequacy.
• The candidate was ordered to be admitted to medical school.

Conclusions:

• Ability-based assessments are superior to disability-focused evaluations for medical admissions.
• There is a critical need to revise National Medical Commission guidelines to align with disability justice principles.
• Future guidelines should incorporate technological advancements and the perspectives of doctors with disabilities.