KFF Health News: Wheelchairs and Hearing Aids—Embracing Abilities, Not Labels
December 11, 2025
KFF Health News: Wheelchair? Hearing Aids? Yes. ‘Disabled’? No Way.
In her home in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Barbara Meade describes a space filled with walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, and cannulas. At 82, Barbara lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which necessitates a portable oxygen tank by her side. Spinal stenosis further limits her mobility, making walkers and wheelchairs essential, along with significant support from her husband, Dennis, who is her primary caregiver.
“I know I need hearing aids,” Barbara admits, noting that her hearing has deteriorated significantly. Although she acquired a pair a few years ago, she seldom uses them. Dennis, 86, is somewhat more mobile despite dealing with arthritis pain in one knee, but he too faces hearing challenges. Frustrated with his own hearing aids, he often resorts to asking others to “talk louder.”
However, when asked a question from a recent University of Michigan survey—“Do you identify as having a disability?”—the Meades respond with a firm “No.”
“Disability means you can’t do things,” Dennis explains. “As long as you can work with it and it’s not affecting your life that much, you don’t consider yourself disabled.”
Their daughter, Michelle Meade, a rehabilitation psychologist and director of the Center for Disability Health and Wellness at the university, often accompanies her parents to medical appointments. She finds their reluctance to acknowledge their need for support somewhat exasperating.
Working alongside other researchers on the national poll has revealed a striking trend: many older adults do not see themselves as disabled, despite clear evidence to the contrary. The survey examined nearly 3,000 Americans aged 50 and older, finding that fewer than 18% of participants over 65 identified as having a disability.
Yet, their responses to the six questions from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey painted a different picture. The survey inquired about difficulties with seeing, hearing, walking, concentrating, dressing, bathing, working, or leaving home.
In the university’s survey, around one-third of those aged 65 to 74 reported challenges with one or more of these functions. Among those over 75, this figure rose to over 44%. Additionally, when asked about various health conditions that require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, such as respiratory issues or speech disorders, the numbers increased significantly. Half of the 65-to-74 age group reported disabilities, while about two-thirds of those over 75 did.
Despite these findings, fewer than 1 in 5 older adults had ever received an accommodation from their healthcare providers, even though they are legally entitled to them under the ADA. Among those who identified as disabled, only a quarter had requested accommodations, although a third received them regardless of whether they asked.
“It’s a familiar story,” noted Megan Morris, a rehabilitation researcher at NYU Langone Health and director of the Disability Equity Collaborative. Many people still view “disability” as a negative term, she explained.
Michelle Meade emphasized that there’s a cultural tendency to resist seeking help, even when it’s legally mandated. “We’re supposed to toughen up and battle through it,” she remarked. This mindset is particularly prevalent among older Americans whose views were shaped before the landmark ADA was enacted in 1990.
In the University of Michigan survey, about half of those over 65 with two or more disabilities identified as disabled, compared to 68% in the younger cohort aged 50 to 64. This distinction is crucial; disclosing a disability can significantly enhance healthcare experiences.
“It greatly assists in healthcare settings if you disclose a disability and know to request accommodations,” said Anjali Forber-Pratt, research director at the American Association of Health and Disability. Such accommodations can alleviate stress during medical visits, including accessible examination tables and amplification devices for those with hearing loss.
Emmie Poling, a 75-year-old retired teacher from Menlo Park, California, shares her struggles with arthritis and spinal stenosis. Despite having a disability parking placard, she often declines assistance when scheduling appointments. “My personal voice says, ‘Come on, you can do it,’” she explained.
Identifying as a person with a disability can foster community and connection, according to advocates. It can help individuals avoid isolation and engage with others who are adept at problem-solving. Organizations like the National Disability Rights Network and the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network provide vital resources and support.
Research indicates that those who identify as disabled experience less depression and anxiety, higher self-esteem, and a greater sense of self-efficacy compared to those who do not. Glenna Mills, an 82-year-old artist from Oakland, California, reflects on her own journey. After years of denying her limitations, she embraced her identity as a person with a disability, which has led to greater happiness and fulfillment.
Despite the challenges, many older Americans resist labels that could improve their care. The Meades have finally agreed to see an audiologist for new hearing aids, while Poling remains determined to manage without assistance. “I know that point will come,” she acknowledged. “I’ll attempt to surrender as gracefully as possible, given my personality.”
By Paula Span
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
December 11, 2025
KFF Health News: Wheelchair? Hearing Aids? Yes. ‘Disabled’? No Way.
In her home in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Barbara Meade describes a space filled with walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, and cannulas. At 82, Barbara lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which necessitates a portable oxygen tank by her side. Spinal stenosis further limits her mobility, making walkers and wheelchairs essential, along with significant support from her husband, Dennis, who is her primary caregiver.
“I know I need hearing aids,” Barbara admits, noting that her hearing has deteriorated significantly. Although she acquired a pair a few years ago, she seldom uses them. Dennis, 86, is somewhat more mobile despite dealing with arthritis pain in one knee, but he too faces hearing challenges. Frustrated with his own hearing aids, he often resorts to asking others to “talk louder.”
However, when asked a question from a recent University of Michigan survey—“Do you identify as having a disability?”—the Meades respond with a firm “No.”
“Disability means you can’t do things,” Dennis explains. “As long as you can work with it and it’s not affecting your life that much, you don’t consider yourself disabled.”
Their daughter, Michelle Meade, a rehabilitation psychologist and director of the Center for Disability Health and Wellness at the university, often accompanies her parents to medical appointments. She finds their reluctance to acknowledge their need for support somewhat exasperating.
Working alongside other researchers on the national poll has revealed a striking trend: many older adults do not see themselves as disabled, despite clear evidence to the contrary. The survey examined nearly 3,000 Americans aged 50 and older, finding that fewer than 18% of participants over 65 identified as having a disability.
Yet, their responses to the six questions from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey painted a different picture. The survey inquired about difficulties with seeing, hearing, walking, concentrating, dressing, bathing, working, or leaving home.
In the university’s survey, around one-third of those aged 65 to 74 reported challenges with one or more of these functions. Among those over 75, this figure rose to over 44%. Additionally, when asked about various health conditions that require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, such as respiratory issues or speech disorders, the numbers increased significantly. Half of the 65-to-74 age group reported disabilities, while about two-thirds of those over 75 did.
Despite these findings, fewer than 1 in 5 older adults had ever received an accommodation from their healthcare providers, even though they are legally entitled to them under the ADA. Among those who identified as disabled, only a quarter had requested accommodations, although a third received them regardless of whether they asked.
“It’s a familiar story,” noted Megan Morris, a rehabilitation researcher at NYU Langone Health and director of the Disability Equity Collaborative. Many people still view “disability” as a negative term, she explained.
Michelle Meade emphasized that there’s a cultural tendency to resist seeking help, even when it’s legally mandated. “We’re supposed to toughen up and battle through it,” she remarked. This mindset is particularly prevalent among older Americans whose views were shaped before the landmark ADA was enacted in 1990.
In the University of Michigan survey, about half of those over 65 with two or more disabilities identified as disabled, compared to 68% in the younger cohort aged 50 to 64. This distinction is crucial; disclosing a disability can significantly enhance healthcare experiences.
“It greatly assists in healthcare settings if you disclose a disability and know to request accommodations,” said Anjali Forber-Pratt, research director at the American Association of Health and Disability. Such accommodations can alleviate stress during medical visits, including accessible examination tables and amplification devices for those with hearing loss.
Emmie Poling, a 75-year-old retired teacher from Menlo Park, California, shares her struggles with arthritis and spinal stenosis. Despite having a disability parking placard, she often declines assistance when scheduling appointments. “My personal voice says, ‘Come on, you can do it,’” she explained.
Identifying as a person with a disability can foster community and connection, according to advocates. It can help individuals avoid isolation and engage with others who are adept at problem-solving. Organizations like the National Disability Rights Network and the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network provide vital resources and support.
Research indicates that those who identify as disabled experience less depression and anxiety, higher self-esteem, and a greater sense of self-efficacy compared to those who do not. Glenna Mills, an 82-year-old artist from Oakland, California, reflects on her own journey. After years of denying her limitations, she embraced her identity as a person with a disability, which has led to greater happiness and fulfillment.
Despite the challenges, many older Americans resist labels that could improve their care. The Meades have finally agreed to see an audiologist for new hearing aids, while Poling remains determined to manage without assistance. “I know that point will come,” she acknowledged. “I’ll attempt to surrender as gracefully as possible, given my personality.”
By Paula Span
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
