Supporting Students with Disabilities in Medical Education: A Webinar Series
Students with disabilities are a vital part of the medical education community, contributing to the diversity and richness of our learning environments. This curated webinar series brings together expert insights and practical guidance to help faculty, staff, and administrators effectively support disabled students across the continuum of medical education.
Covering topics from legal considerations and policy development to communication strategies and psychological disability support, this collection offers critical tools for fostering equity, access, and inclusion. Developed in collaboration with national experts and leading institutions, these webinars are intended to strengthen institutional practices and promote a culture of belonging for all learners.
On this page:
Professionalism in communication between university personnel and students is critical when addressing disability-related needs and implementing accommodations. Students often struggle with how (and how much) to discuss their disabilities with faculty and supervisors, particularly when the disability may impact communication, such as autism, non-verbal learning disorders, or psychological conditions. Faculty and administrators may also unintentionally blur boundaries by shifting into a provider role, complicating interactions further.
In this webinar, Neera R. Jain, MS, CRC, Lisa Meeks, PhD, and Maxine A. Papadakis, MD, all from the University of California, San Francisco, share best practices for establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries, and offer real-world examples of positive and professional communication. The session provides valuable guidance for disability services providers, faculty, and administrators working with students with disabilities.
Materials:
This webinar provides a practical overview of the disability laws that apply to medical schools, with particular attention to the role of faculty in the accommodation process, how disability laws affect technical standards, and balancing disability accommodations with patient safety concerns. Relevant OCR decisions and court cases are also discussed.
The session features Jon McGough, MEd (c) of the University of Washington and Elisa Laird-Metke, JD of the University of California, San Francisco, both nationally recognized experts in disability services and policy in the health professions. Their combined experience in legal, clinical, and educational settings brings rich, real-world perspective to the discussion.
Materials:
In this capstone conversation, returning presenters Elisa Laird, Jon McGough, and Timothy Montgomery respond to key questions submitted throughout the series — ranging from documentation best practices to implementing and defending accommodation decisions in health science education. This session offers practical guidance, legal insights, and valuable resources for professionals working to ensure access and equity for students with disabilities. It also previews upcoming initiatives and ways to stay connected through the Coalition’s Listserv and annual symposium.
Materials:
Medical schools across the country are striving to build diverse student bodies that reflect their missions and the needs of the populations they serve. While many institutions have had success with holistic admissions practices, it’s equally critical to establish strong support systems to retain students once they matriculate.
In this webinar, hosted by the AAMC’s Committee on Admissions (COA) and Committee on Student Diversity Affairs (COSDA), leaders from four institutions share their experiences and strategies. Dr. LaTanya Love (McGovern Medical School) moderates a conversation featuring Dr. David McIntosh (University of Louisville), Dr. Sunny Nakae (Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine), and Dr. Sarika Thakur (UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine). Together, they discuss how their schools have implemented holistic review processes, developed initiatives to retain diverse students, and aligned these efforts with broader institutional goals.
Materials:
Clear, well-communicated policies for disability accommodations are essential to supporting medical students and fostering an inclusive learning environment. In this webinar, experts share guidance on creating and publicizing procedures for students to request accommodations, as well as tips for ensuring that faculty and staff are equipped to provide support in both classroom and clinical settings.
Barbara Blacklock, MA, LISW (University of Minnesota Disability Resource Center), Dr. Phaedra Bell (University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine), and Dr. Lisa Meeks (UCSF School of Medicine) offer practical advice on crafting effective processes that benefit all students, particularly those with visible and invisible disabilities. The presenters highlight how thoughtful accommodations practices enhance student success and contribute to a medical school’s overall diversity and equity efforts.
Materials:
People with disabilities are a vital part of the medical education community’s diversity, yet students with psychological disabilities often face stigma, misperceptions, and a lack of inclusive dialogue. In this important follow-up to a conversation initiated at the AAMC Learn Serve Lead Annual Meeting in Baltimore, three leaders in medical education — Dr. Lisa Meeks (UCSF School of Medicine), Dr. Joseph Murray (Weill Cornell School of Medicine), and Dr. Maxine Papadakis (UCSF School of Medicine) — explore best practices and common challenges in supporting students with psychological disabilities.
The webinar encourages the development of healthy, informed, and constructive discourse around mental health in medical education. Presenters offer practical guidance for creating supportive environments and institutional policies that enhance learning, wellness, and equity for all students.
Materials:
This webinar addresses five common myths about students with disabilities in health science and medical education, covering concerns about patient safety, academic rigor, and workplace readiness. Presenters explore the misconceptions behind these myths and offer practical strategies for developing policies and accommodations that ensure access without compromising student or patient outcomes.
Panelists include leaders in disability services from Stanford University, the University of Missouri, Northwestern University, and the University of California, San Francisco. They bring diverse perspectives from academic and legal contexts, including contributions to key publications like The Guide to Assisting Students with Disabilities and Medical Students with Disabilities: Resources to Enhance Accessibility.
Materials:
This webinar introduces the mission and scope of the Group on Student Affairs-Committee on Student Diversity Affairs (GSA-COSDA), a network that connects and supports nearly 400 diversity affairs professionals at U.S. medical schools. Recognizing the variations in structure, titles, policies, and campus cultures across institutions, the session offers practical strategies for engagement and impact at multiple professional levels.
Featured speakers include Gerald Yutrzenka, PhD (University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine), then-chair of GSA-COSDA; Fidencio Saldana, MD, MPH (Harvard Medical School), Northeast Region Representative; and David McIntosh, PhD (University of Louisville), Southern Region Representative. Together, they highlight the critical contributions of leaders in shaping inclusive learning environments and advancing institutional missions.
Materials: