BACKGROUND:
People with disabilities experience social exclusion and difficulties accessing healthcare. Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) approaches have the potential to improve people’s ability to access healthcare. We co-designed a Participatory Learning and Action for Disability (PLA-D) approach to improve healthcare access for people with disabilities in the Luuka district.

METHODS:
We are implementing 50 PLA-D groups through an 11-meeting participatory learning and action cycle. We conducted a baseline evaluation of the groups at meeting 4 using qualitative methods to explore their acceptability and contribution to improving healthcare access for persons with disabilities. We conducted FGDs (n=10) with group members, key informant interviews (n=10) with group facilitators, supervisors and managers and observations (n=10). Data were thematically analysed.

RESULTS:
The study findings revealed that PLA-D groups are acceptable and have the potential to improve healthcare access for people with disabilities. The perceived benefits were structured in six themes: 1) Increased health awareness, 2) Increased demand and access to healthcare, 3) Reduced stigma and discrimination, 4) Improved health financing, 5) Increased advocacy, participation and inclusion, and 6) Improved WASH practices. The findings show that the groups fostered community participation and pathways for addressing healthcare access barriers. Participants reported that the groups contribute to building resilience and equitable healthcare access.

CONCLUSIONS:
Participatory, community-driven approaches have the potential to build more responsive and inclusive health systems by identifying locally relevant barriers and scalable solutions to improve healthcare access for people with disabilities. Endline evaluation will be conducted between December 2025 and January 2026.