The CACTI Blog: Listening First – Learning from Lived Experience in Disability Care

By Emily Frei, 2025-2026 Interdisciplinary Approach to Disability in Professional Practice Intern 

As a pre-occupational therapy student, I have always been interested in providing quality, patient-centered care. However, I quickly realized that truly understanding patients, especially people with disabilities, is more than just textbooks and lectures. My experience with an interprofessional exercise (IPE) in disabilities, hosted in collaboration with the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, gave me a new perspective on what meaningful care really looks like.

During this IPE, students from different healthcare fields had the opportunity to engage directly with people with disabilities. These conversations were very different from what we typically learn in the classroom. Instead of focusing only on diagnoses or treatments, we listened to personal stories about healthcare experiences—both positive and negative. One of the most impactful parts of this was hearing how often people with disabilities feel unheard in clinical settings. Some community members shared that providers would speak to family members instead of them or make assumptions about their quality of life. These moments highlighted how important it is to treat patients as experts in their own experiences.

At the same time, many community members also shared examples of excellent care—providers who took the time to listen, ask questions, and include them in decision-making. These stories showed that small actions, like making eye contact or asking about personal preferences, can make a huge difference in how care is received.

This experience reinforced something that is not always emphasized enough in healthcare training: listening is a clinical skill. It is just as important as diagnosing or prescribing treatment. By taking the time to understand a patient’s experience, providers can build trust, improve communication, and deliver more effective care.

Participating in this IPE also helped me recognize the importance of including people with disabilities in healthcare education. Their voices provide insight that simulations or case studies can’t provide on their own. They challenge assumptions, highlight gaps in care, and help future providers become more empathetic and aware.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn directly from community members. This experience has shaped how I think about my future career in healthcare. I want to be a provider who listens first, values patient perspectives, and advocates for more inclusive and accessible care for all individuals.

The CACTI Blog features the voices of our interdisciplinary trainees and Community Advisory Council members as they highlight diverse images of people with disabilities and provide community information and advocacy on disability issues. Check Out The CACTI Blog