Instituting Public Health Policy and Practice that Reflects Contemporary Models of Disability

Much progress has been made in framing discussion of disability, moving away from outmoded models of disability as inherent within the person to current conceptualizations of disability as a dynamic process involving personal factors and physical and social environment. Greater awareness by policymakers has led to key statements and policy decisions to decrease health disparities impacting persons with disabilities. These include the Surgeon General's "Call to Action," inclusion of persons with disabilities as a demographic in Healthy People 2010, and statutes within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In addition, strides have been made in disability surveillance. Despite advances, public health practice has been slow to respond. As noted in the 2007 Institute of Medicine Report, little advancement has been made in adopting key public health policy recommendations set out by the IOM. This presentation will provide an objective analysis of current public health practice relating to persons with disabilities as a demographic. Advances, obstacles and opportunities will be cited and specific suggestions for advancing public health practice given. Emphasis will be on health indicators within HP 2010 and HP 2020 looking at lessons learned from HP 2010 with a view towards maximizing opportunities to advance goals of HP 2020. Specific recommendations will be made for improving indicators of health. Practices to reduce health disparities impacting persons with disabilities in Massachusetts through collaboration between disability advocates, research institutions and Department of Public Health will be provided as models for shaping public health practice around contemporary understandings of disability.