Differences in health status for people with disabilities

Nationally, major gaps - health disparities - exist between people with and without disabilities on leading indicators of health, illustrating higher risk for poorer health among people with disabilities. Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, significant differences (p < .01) exist between people with and without disabilities in obesity, smoking, physical activity, access to dental services, mammography use, and reported overall health status. Further breakouts by states indicate variations in these differences. Public health programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show promise in helping to improve the health of people with disabilities, with efforts being made to build upon knowledge gained through these practices to further reduce health disparities. This presentation will update and expand information from a national webinar presented on 1/24/2012 that provided an overview of the problem along with a discussion of potential promising practices and strategies intended to reduce disability health disparities. Discussion will expand upon a review of public health efforts undertaken by the CDC's Division of Human Development and Disability, along with states and organizations representing people with disabilities, to increase public recognition that people with disabilities can live long, healthy and productive lives and reduce stigma and discrimination; improve knowledge, skills and attitudes of health care providers to improve care; expand accessibility of health care, including insurance, facilities, equipment, transportation; develop additional opportunities for health promotion, safety and wellbeing; and effectively utilize data on disability populations that informs further research on disability-related health disparities and interventions.