Disability Rights and Accommodations

The Tower, which opened in 2012 and is a key part of the Medical Center, incorporates what's known as universal design, making it accessible to people with and without disabilities.

Here are a few of the key features:

• The grade of the slopes of the ramps between the Tower and the Atrium Building are barely noticeable, making it easier for people in wheelchairs to propel themselves up and down the ramps.
• Handrails are abundant throughout areas where patients travel.
• Contrasting borders on the edges of hallway carpeting help patients with low vision distinguish where walls are located.
• All acute-care and critical-care adult patient rooms have built-in ceiling tracks to accommodate lift devices for patients with disabilities.
• Bathroom doors inside patient rooms swing in both directions, allowing people in wheelchairs to enter and exit easily.

Throughout the Medical Center, we have implemented a number of accessibility improvements and provided additional services to support people with disabilities.

Along with our continued implementation of accessibility audit recommendations, our building accommodations include the following:

• Electric doors at major entrances and other high-use locations
• Attendants and wheelchairs in key locations for anyone who needs such assistance
• Modifications in elevators, which include installing mirrors to help people using wheelchairs and motorized vehicles
• Additional fully accessible restrooms
• More parking spaces for people with disabilities and parking garage modifications to improve accessibility
• Modifications for fourth floor Atrium patient information desk to improve accommodations for people using wheelchairs and having other special needs
• Adjustable mammography tables, Hoyer lifts and other special equipment to improve accessibility to health services
• Teletypewriters (TTY) in key locations throughout the Medical Center and Rush University
• Infrared amplification devices in classrooms of Armour Academic Center
• New telephone system throughout the Medical Center with volume controls on all phones

Programs, resources and services include the following:

• Reduced-rate valet parking for patients and visitors with disabilities
• Sign language and foreign language interpreter programs for patients and their families, coordinated through Volunteer Services
• Sign language classes for Rush employees and students
• Creation of Rush University Disability Assessment Team
• Patients With Special Needs Program (to raise awareness among staff and improve care for patients with disabilities)
• Policy on service animals for inpatients, outpatients, employees, students and visitors

The Medical Center has accomplished several achievements that highlight our commitment to people with disabilities and the advances we've made in supporting this community. Some of those accomplishments include the following:

Honors and awards

• Annual Thonar Award to recognize individuals at Rush whose efforts "turn a disability into a possibility," 1991-present
• Recognition from the City of Chicago for 15 years of ADA leadership
• Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to the late Marca Bristo, president of Access Living and past chair of the National Council on Disability
• Promotion across the Medical Center of Disability Awareness Month and Rush Rehabilitation Week
• The nomination of qualified candidates for external awards, such as the city of Chicago's August W. Christmann Awards

Outreach and education efforts

• ADA information line in Volunteer Services for public and institutional use
• ADA information and services in Rush publications and on the website
• Patient services representative to assist with the implementation of programs
• Consultation on Metro Chicago Health Care Services TTY Directory
• Director for Specialized Student Services in Rush Medical College
• Human resources program to identify more job applicants with disabilities
• University admissions effort to identify more student applicants with disabilities
• New learning disabilities initiatives related to students and employees
• College of Nursing symposium on Students With Disabilities: Nursing Education and Practices, for officials from U.S. nursing colleges, nursing organizations, regulatory agencies and disability rights groups
• Partner of National Organization of Nurses With Disabilities
• Consultant to Illinois Secretary of State's Office on brochure Parking Program for Persons With Disabilities: A Guide for Medical Professionals, on the proper issuance of disability parking placards (report published on pre- and post-distribution results)
• Participation in city of Chicago's Annual Mentoring Day for students with disabilities
• Update of Rush Emergency Preparedness Plan for people with disabilities

Founded in 1991, the Rush Americans With Disabilities Act Task Force develops and implements policies for people with disabilities and educates the Rush community about accommodating people with disabilities as employees, students, faculty members and patients. The task force is composed of high-level administrators, faculty and students.

• View recent task force initiatives and accomplishments

Although we've made many improvements here at the Medical Center, we will continue to identify opportunities that allow us to build on this work to ensure we continue growing. Areas that we are currently working on include the following:

• Improved signage throughout the institution
• New employee orientation and training and development programs
• Improved training on the use of teletypewriters and Illinois Relay System
• Listing of relevant disability resources and products on Rush intranet for quick referral
• Further mammography improvements