Strategies for Retaining PA Students with Disabilities Webinar

PA programs are seeing increasing numbers of students with disabilities entering healthcare education, but many programs still struggle with how to effectively support, accommodate, and retain these learners. In this webinar, Jon McGough, MEd will share strategies for PA programs on how to create more accessible learning environments while maintaining academic and clinical standards. Participants will explore common barriers faced by students with disabilities in PA education, gain clarity on legal and ethical responsibilities surrounding accommodations, and learn how proactive support practices can improve retention rates and overall program outcomes. The webinar will also address best practices for communication, documentation, and fostering a culture of inclusion within PA programs. 

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: 

1. Identify common barriers that students with disabilities encounter in PA education programs. 
2. Apply best practices for evaluating and implementing reasonable accommodations while maintaining essential program requirements. 
3. Develop strategies to improve retention and student support for learners with disabilities. 
4. Foster a more inclusive and accessible culture within PA education programs. 

Speaker

Jon McGough, MEd, has more than 15 years of experience coordinating ADA accommodations in higher education and private business. He served on the Board of the Coalition for Disability Access in Health Science and Medical Education and is a past President of the Washington Association on Postsecondary Education and Disability.  He is an advocate for improving opportunity for disabled clinicians in training, and contributed to two chapters in The Guide to Assisting Students With Disabilities: Equal Access in Health Science and Professional Education. His list of clients and past employers includes Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, the University of Washington, Portland State University, and Amazon, among others. He is currently the Student Disability Specialist at University of California, San Francisco, and a frequent presenter for AHEAD.