The Disability Coalition on Healthcare Reform is comprised of individual advocates and disability organizations who share the common mission to proactively improve & assure access to quality health care for Missourians with disabilities.
We believe that access to comprehensive healthcare is crucial to the independence, dignity, and equality of all people including people with disabilities. The DCHR advocates for accessible health care that is affordable, located in the individual’s community, free of physical and communication barriers, and provided in a timely manner.
People with disabilities must have access to a wide range of comprehensive, affordable services to meet their individual health care needs including, but not limited to necessary preventive care, mental health care, specialty care, medications, durable medical equipment, supplies, in-home services and long-term care. The current health care system does not meet the needs of people with disabilities. The DCHR is dedicated to removing barriers in the health care system by developing effective policy recommendations and building broad-based community support for those solutions.
One of our key principles is that people with disabilities must be participants in shaping the policies and developing the healthcare and long-term care systems that impact their lives. The disability community can impact health care and long term care systems by building power through a unified, sustained coalition.
Our current goals are to:
If you are a self-advocate, a family member or disability organization interested in becoming a member of the DCHR or if you are an ally and would like to partner with us, please contact Megan Burke (mburke@paraquad.org) or Kirsten Dunham (kdunham@paraquad.org) for more information about the coalition and the process for membership.