Including people with disabilities in health promotion programs

Background: Substantial research evidence has shown that people with disabilities experience a wide range of health disparities compared to those without a disability. For example, Kansas data shows the prevalence of diabetes was almost three times higher among those with a disability (16.7%) compared to those without a disability (4.5%). People with disabilities frequently report greater unmet health care needs and receiving fewer preventive services than the general population. For example, Kansas women with disabilities are far less likely to receive a cervical cancer screening than Kansas women without a disability (21.9% vs. 12.3% respectively). Methods: To begin to address these disparities, the Kansas Disability and Health Program staff collaborated with the Kansas Cardiovascular Program staff, the Kansas Cancer Program staff and the Kansas Diabetes Program staff to recruit Kansans with disabilities to participate as members of their respective advisory councils. Results: As members of the state-level health promotion advisory councils, individuals with disabilities helped to suggest, shape and “do the work” for several meaningful strategies and actions in the state plans addressing health disparities among Kansans with disabilities. Conclusions: Inviting people with disabilities to join these advisory councils has fostered an environment and foundation to begin to eliminate disparities related to disability in a culturally sensitive and appropriate manner. An unexpected benefit is that the Kansas disability community is learning about public health. Our success in this endeavor establishes a model for other health promotion programs to do the same in working to address disability-related disparities.