Left Wanting: Desired but Unaccessed Resources Among Health Service Psychology Trainees With Disabilities

Given our knowledge of the underrepresentation of people with disabilities in psychology and the barriers that they face, we aimed to identify disability-related resources that psychology trainees and psychologists with disabilities desired, but did not access, during their education and training. In order to do so, we analyzed from responses to an open-ended item in an online survey of health service psychologists and health service psychology trainees with disabilities. Six key themes emerged: accommodations; mentor and peer support; no specific wanted resources; resources and materials for oneself; disability services offices; and disability training for others. Throughout these themes, there was an overarching reflection of the difficulty and isolation that is often present in the experiences of disabled trainees and psychologists. Consistent with other empirical studies and conceptual and theoretical writings, these findings reveal a wide-spread and long-standing lack of access for trainees with disabilities within health service psychology. Recommendations for creating more disability-affirmative and accessible training environments are included. Public Significance Statement This study provides empirical, qualitative data on the disability-related resources wanted, but not accessed by, health service psychologists and psychology trainees with disabilities. It reveals strong gaps in the areas of accommodations, peer support and mentorship, and training and resources for both trainees and faculty that must be met in order to increase disability representation in health service psychology.