More medical students are telling their schools about disabilities

A new survey finds that more students enrolled in M.D. programs in the U.S. are disclosing disabilities to their schools — and are getting accommodations. Within the 87 U.S. schools that were surveyed over two years, researchers found that roughly 5% of the more than 56,000 students at the schools had disclosed some sort of disability — including issues with mobility, hearing, or other chronic health problems. Eighty-four of those schools reported that around 93% of their students with disabilities were receiving accommodations, including extra time during examinations and ergonomic equipment to help with any physical issues. Although the percentage of students reporting disabilities increased during the study period — indicating a willingness to share that information — the study didn’t survey students on their experiences.