Having a disability should not be a barrier to receiving high-quality health care. At Duke, we work hard to provide equal access for all people and offer a range of free accessibility services to patients and visitors who need them. Among other services, we have accessible parking and transportation, assistive technologies, Braille and large-print materials, and more.
We provide accommodations to patients and visitors with the full range of disabilities, which include but are not limited to:
We also offer services for people with short stature, obesity, and other physical differences that can make navigating health care challenging.
Transportation and Parking
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we provide accessible parking at all of our clinics and hospitals. Accessible buses and vans are available for all routes served by Duke Transit in Durham. The Duke Campus Map provides details about building entrances, parking, pedestrian routes, and more. For other locations, regional and city buses are public transportation options available to you. Google Maps can give you directions to the closest bus stop near each clinic.
Service Animals
Service animals -- dogs or miniature horses specifically trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability -- are allowed to accompany patients and visitors in patient rooms and anywhere in the hospital where the public is allowed. For patient safety and infection prevention, service animals may be prohibited in some areas. These include operating rooms, intensive care units, and areas where the animal cannot be protected, such as radiation therapy clinics. Therapy, emotional support, and companion animals are not service animals but may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. For more information, email christina.d.kline@duke.edu.
Effective Communication Access Accommodations
Duke provides services and devices to ensure you and your companions can effectively communicate with our staff and providers throughout your visit. This includes:
If you have questions about requesting effective communication accommodations, please contact Duke Access and Accommodation Services at 919-668-1267 or DAAS@duke.edu.
If you believe that Duke Health has denied an auxiliary aid or service, you can request reconsideration of denial by contacting Duke Access Accommodation Services with a statement explaining why you need the aid or service that was denied.
If you believe that Duke Health has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, you can file a grievance with:
Patient Visitor Relations
Box 2968 DUMC
Durham, NC 27710
Phone: 919-681-2020 (option 3)
Fax: 919-684-8296 PatientVisitorRelations@dm.duke.edu
Accessible Medical Equipment
Many of our locations provide medical equipment designed for people with disabilities including:
Web Accessibility
Duke believes web content should be accessible to people with a wide range of abilities including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological. We endeavor to make dukehealth.org universally accessible and compatible with assistive technologies.
Services at Duke Health
Wheelchairs and assistance are available at Duke University Hospital and at three locations on Duke Medicine Circle: Duke Clinic, Duke Cancer Center, and Duke Medical Pavilion. Valets at the entrance of each building can help locate a wheelchair for your use.
You can request patient transportation assistance inside each building at the information desk near the entry of each site. There may be a wait for assistance at peak times.
At the entrance of Brier Creek Medical Pavilion and the South Durham Health Center, a concierge can provide wheelchairs for patient use.
If you have questions or encounter problems, call 919-668-1267 or email DMSOffice@duke.edu.
Other Transportation Assistance Options
Several services in the Triangle area offer transportation assistance for people going to health care (and other) appointments. Note that in most cases, these are not on-demand services, so transportation arrangements must be made in advance of your appointment.
Non-Emergency Medicaid Transportation for Durham County Residents
Non-emergency Medicaid transportation (NEMT) is available for Medicaid recipients who have no other means of transportation to doctors' offices, hospitals, dialysis centers, dental offices, and all other health-related appointments. Durham County residents who meet these criteria may receive bus tickets and/or van rides. You must complete a transportation assessment via phone before service can begin. Locations serviced include Durham County, the Brier Creek area, and the Chapel Hill area. Call 919-560-8607 for an eligibility assessment and to schedule Medicaid transportation.