Attitudes and access: advancing the rights of people with disabilities.

Barriers to movement and communication in the physical environment prevent people with disabilities from enjoying the same rights, privileges and opportunities as other members of society. The guidelines presented by Drs. Karen E. Jones and Itamar E. Tamari in this issue (page 647) remind us that access to physicians' offices is one area in which improvement is greatly needed. But, as Jones and Tamari acknowledge, accessibility involves more than the removal of physical barriers. The greatest obstacles faced by disabled people are often attitudinal ones. Programs that place responsibility for rehabilitation and integration within the community can foster a better understanding of the issues. Family physicians and other professionals must work with communities to change the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of policy-makers and the public. Until significant progress is made on this front, problems of access that serve to marginalize people with disabilities will persist.