Accessibility

If you have difficulties seeing, please talk to someone on your healthcare team about your accessibility needs so they can work with you to provide the best care.

If you are coming for a clinic appointment, please call the clinic beforehand. Explain your accessibility needs so they can be prepared when you arrive.

For those that are visually impaired, some of our hospitals and centres have audible signals in the main elevators as well as Braille numbers on the control panels. Tactile numerals are also provided on the hall frames at each level.

If you have difficulties hearing, please talk to someone on your healthcare team about your accessibility needs so they can work with you to provide the best care.

If you are coming for a clinic appointment, please call the clinic beforehand. Explain your accessibility needs so they can be prepared when you arrive.

If you require sign language interpretation at one of our hospitals or centres, please talk to someone on your healthcare team. They will work with you to arrange for a qualified interpreter from the community. If you know you are coming to hospital ahead of time, please inform your healthcare team of your need for an interpreter to that they can make arrangements in time for your visit.

You and your family are also welcome to organize your own interpretation services.

Wheelchairs are available at all of our hospitals. They are located at front entrances.

We welcome service animals at all of our hospitals.

Service animals are granted access into all areas of the hospital except those areas that require special precautions, such as the operating room.

Service animals are identified by a harness / vest or a letter confirming that you require the animal for reasons relating to your disability. This letter must be written by a Regulated Health Professional who can speak to your needs. You are responsible for your animal’s care and behavior at all times.

You are welcome to bring a support person with you to the hospital. A support person is an individual hired or chosen to accompany you to help with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs or access to services as it relates to your disability.

For safety and security, support persons may not be able to accompany you in some parts of the hospital or for certain procedures (e.g X-ray). Please talk to someone on your healthcare team if you have questions or concerns.

Accessible parking is available at each of our hospitals and centres. For information about accessible parking locations at our hospitals and centres, choose a location from the list below.

There are accessible washrooms at every Hamilton Health Sciences hospital. Typically, accessible washrooms are located on the main level near the lobby.

Please bring any assistive device that you require to the hospital. Talk to someone on your healthcare team if you need help to use them.

Examples of assistive devices:

• Walkers
• Wheelchairs
• Communication aids
• Glasses
• Hearing aids

Please let us know if you have a disability related to talking or understanding. If you can, tell us what works best for you. If you have a communication book, please bring it with you.

Your healthcare team will also work with you to find the best communication strategies.

Here are some examples:

1. Use plain language.
2. Speak clearly and reduce your rate of speech.
3. Allow extra time to understand and respond to your questions.
4. In addition to speech, you could consider using writing, drawings, gestures, facial expressions, photos, calendars, maps, and other visual supports.
5. Confirm that you are being understood with “yes” and “no” questions.
6. Clarify and rephrase when necessary, especially with numbers.
7. Have pen and paper available.

Please tell your clinic if you need a language interpreter to help communicate with your health care team before your appointment. Due to COVID-19, interpretation services are currently available at HHS by phone.