The Journey of Humanizing Care for People With Disabilities

Abstract

The Max Bramer keynote address at the annual Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA) conference provided an opportunity for reflection on our journey as health care professionals to humanize care for all people, and particularly those who are disabled. It is important to review the history of disability and discrimination to understand the progress made to date, and then consider the array of steps possible in further refining the humanistic dimensions of dental care. The typologies of tourist, traveler, adventurer, and scout were formulated to consider varieties of humanized care found within articles published in Special Care in Dentistry. Considering exemplars for each of these four typologies leads to reflections about how dentistry can embrace understanding, improve training of new dental professionals, tailor care for people with disabilities, and advocate for equity.