To the editor:

I read the LMH Health article Sunday on health “inclusiveness, diversity and equity” in disbelief because the topic of disability as an equity issue was not included along with “religion, color of their skin, or who they love.” In fact, it was totally omitted. This, despite several complaints in recent years regarding local access and safety issues, the entire October 2022 issue of the journal Health Affairs being devoted to inequitable care for people with disabilities, and the health care industry’s notorious resistance to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, 33 years after its passage. In addition, a landmark 2017 report by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, titled “Compounded Disparities: Health Equity at the Intersection of Disability, Race and Ethnicity,” identified the combination of race, ethnicity and disability as specific area of inequity in health care.

An article on health equity that ignores current research and that omits disability does not serve to promote or educate the public about equity. This is a serious concern in a retirement destination where equity and access are important as many age into functional limitations. As an aging person with a disability, I hope that future articles will address a more complete definition of health equity and that the boards mentioned in the LMH article will address health equity for all community members.

Dot Nary,

Lawrence