Please read on for a blog post from Ed Henkler's The Blind Guide about Accessible Pharmacy Services!
Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind (see Resources below) was founded in April of 2020 at a time when everyone was struggling to obtain accessible healthcare. The program is the brainchild of Dr. Alex Cohen, PhD. Alex was diagnosed with a degenerative retinal disease known as Retinitis Pigmentosa in his late teens and is now blind. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on the accessibility of the American retail marketplace for blind consumers.
He is not just the co-founder and Chief Marketing and Accessibility Officer for Accessible Pharmacy Services (APS). Alex is also an Assistant Professor in the Marketing Department at West Chester University. His research focuses on creating a more inclusive marketplace for consumers with disabilities. Dr. Cohen teamed up with the accessibility advocacy experience of Andy Burstein and the medical experience of Dr. Jason Barrett, PharmD to form Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind.
Comprehensive Home Delivery Pharmacy Service
APS provides a comprehensive, home delivery pharmacy service specializing in the needs of people who are blind, DeafBlind, or have low vision. They are the only provider of its kind in the world. It is also the largest blind-owned healthcare company in the country.
Due to the universal design of the model that embraces personalized medication solutions, other populations have gravitated towards Accessible Pharmacy Services. These populations include patients who are deaf, paralyzed, or have cognitive and intellectual disabilities, seniors, asylum seekers, and refugees. This is just another demonstration of the value of universal design. Solutions designed for people with disabilities often benefit other groups, with or without disabilities.
Merging Healthcare And Accessibility To Provide Prescription Assistance For The Blind
Accessible Pharmacy Services merges healthcare and accessibility. That merger empowers patients to manage their medication and diabetes independently. They have less stress and ultimately live healthier lives.
APS provides a combination of accessible compliance packaging, such as accessible labeling that includes braille, large fonts in 200 languages, audio labels and individual support. There is no additional charge to the consumer. And each patient has a customized medication management plan. They are also the pharmacy partner of Be My Eyes (see Resources below). They use Be My Eyes to support, train and guide patients.
In addition to the medication management and patient support, Accessible Pharmacy provides an ongoing series of educational programs. Healthcare providers regularly provide information focusing on topics such as diabetes, cancer and the use of eye drops for blind patients.
Blind Health Expo
APS is also the host of the Blind Health Expo (see Resources below), the largest virtual event about blindness and healthcare for consumers, healthcare providers, non-profit organizations and government agencies. I participated last year and it was wonderful. A powerful gathering of so many providers of services for the blind. And a large, engaged group of attendees.
Accessible Pharmacy is growing not only in patients but in the community. They employ individuals who are blind to work on their team. They also provide paid internships to college students who are blind. The college internship program is facilitated by VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired in New York City and funded by the New York State Commission for the Blind. This organization was previously featured in this Commission for the Blind Services post.
Prescription Assistance For The Blind Is A Big Deal
Think this is a big deal? I can guarantee you that others do.
Awards
- 2021 Federal Government’s FCC Advancement in Accessibility in Healthcare
- 2021 Partners for Youth with Disabilities Award
- 2022 Helen Keller Services AccessAbility award for work with the DeafBlind.
- 2022 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award for leadership the disability world
Featured In
- New York Times
- LA Times
- NPR
- Pharmacy Today
- ABC
- CBS