Promoting further inclusion of people with disabilities in public health programs: Lessons learned from federal efforts

Inclusion of people with disabilities in public health programmatic efforts is an important priority, as indicated by the U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities. Numerous entities are working towards greater inclusion, including federal agencies, state health departments, universities, and non-governmental organizations and all have made progress using innovative strategies and approaches. Collaboration among these diverse groups remains critical to the inclusion agenda for people with disabilities. This presentation will discuss strategies and approaches applied by the Division of Human Development and Disability at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to achieve the inclusion of people with disabilities in public health programmatic activities. Examples will be used to illustrate federal efforts as well as approaches taken through funded programs at both the state and national levels. These examples describe efforts at initiating and sustaining important relationships, branding and marketing, and creating procedural changes.