Healthcare: What Needs to Change

Many people with intellectual disabilities face barriers to getting good healthcare. Doctors and healthcare workers often don’t understand intellectual disability, making it harder to get the right treatment. Discrimination, inaccessible information, and a lack of decision-making rights make healthcare services difficult to navigate.

This guide explains:

  • The challenges people with intellectual disabilities face in accessing healthcare.
  • What inclusive and accessible healthcare looks like.
  • What healthcare providers, governments, and others can do to ensure people with intellectual disabilities get the care they need.

Self-advocates from around the world share their experiences and call for healthcare systems that respect their rights, provide clear and accessible information, and allow them to make their own health decisions.

This document was prepared for the Global Disability Summit 2025, with support from UNICEF and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

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