A 2006 survey of people with disabilities showed that 75% of them have at least a moderate degree of difficulty using the examination tables in a doctor’s office. The most obvious problem is that most of the tables are too high. But also there is a lack of railing and hand-holds to allow safe transfer.

The survey also indicated difficulties with imaging equipment like x-ray machines and MRIs. Something as simple as getting weighed can also pose significant challenges for those with disabilities.

The survey was published by the Western University of Health Sciences Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions in Pomona, California, and Houston’s Independent Living Research Utilization.