APHA’s Disability section invites abstract submissions for socio-behavioral, including health education and program intervention research, epidemiological, health systems, health law and policy, and social justice research related to disability and public health that represent people with all types of disabilities (e.g., intellectual, developmental, physical, psychosocial, and sensory) across the lifespan. The section encourages abstracts that feature domestic and international perspectives. Case studies and demonstration projects that represent best practices and have been evaluated are also highly encouraged.

 

Abstracts dedicated to any and all aspects of disability and public health will be considered.

 

When submitting an abstract, please identify it as falling into one of the following categories:

• Advancing Disability-Competent Healthcare Education
  Disability-competent healthcare education is essential to health equity, population health, and quality of care, yet many public health and healthcare training programs inadequately address disability, contributing to persistent disparities. This session will explore evidence-informed approaches to educating public health, medical, and health professional workforces to improve disability knowledge, provider confidence, and the identification and reduction of medical bias. Topics will include research on gaps in disability education, the public health consequences of bias and inaccessibility in healthcare settings, and training strategies that advance equitable, disability-competent care across healthcare systems.
• Approaching Public Health through a Disability Justice Lens
  This session will examine public health through a disability justice framework, centering the lived experiences of people with disabilities at the intersections of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other marginalized identities. Topics should address how intersecting forms of structural inequality shape health outcomes, access to care, and public health interventions, and highlight approaches that advance equity, inclusion, and justice for disabled communities.
• Disability Rights in an Evolving Public Health Landscape: Advancing Health Equity Through Law and Policy
  This session will examine emerging issues at the intersection of disability rights, public health law, and policy as public health systems undergo significant transformation. Topics may explore how legal and policy changes create both opportunities and risks for disability rights and health equity, including the ways reforms across jurisdictions promote inclusion or, alternatively, exacerbate systemic inequities. Submissions may address the implications of modernization efforts for disabled communities, with particular attention to intersectional impacts and strategies to ensure disability rights remain central to public health reform, governance, and implementation.
• Emerging Public Health Issues Affecting People with Disabilities
  This session will examine pressing and emerging public health challenges that disproportionately affect people with disabilities. Topics may address the multidimensional factors driving heightened risks, health disparities, and inequities in the context of issues such as pandemics, climate change, chronic disease, mental health, substance use, violence, and access to healthcare. Submissions should highlight evidence-informed strategies to advance disability inclusion across public health research, planning, policy, and practice.
• Health Promotion for People with Disabilities across the Lifespan
  This session will examine health promotion for people with disabilities across the lifespan, from childhood through older adulthood. Topics may include medical and public health considerations, caregiver and family support, and programs and interventions that promote health and well-being at different life stages. Submissions may address healthcare transitions for adolescents and young adults, long-term health and chronic condition management, and policy, systems, and environmental strategies that advance inclusive, lifespan-oriented health promotion.
• Promoting Environmental Justice for People with Disabilities
  This session will examine the intersection of disability justice and environmental justice within a public health framework. Topics may address inaccessible built and natural environments—such as lack of sidewalks, unsafe transportation infrastructure, limited access to parks and recreational spaces, and inadequate disaster preparedness—and their implications for health equity. Submissions may also explore disproportionate exposures experienced by people with disabilities, including pollution, toxic sites, and extreme heat, as well as advocacy, policy, and community-based frameworks that advance disability inclusion in environmental justice research and practice.
• Promoting Physical Activity Opportunities for People with Disabilities (Collaborative Session with Physical Activity)
  Regular physical activity is important for health, functioning, and quality of life, but people with disabilities face barriers to participation. This session will explore evidence-based strategies to promote physical activity equitably within disabled communities across their lifespans. Topics will include research on disparities in activity levels among disabled populations and how inaccessible built environments and lack of adaptive equipment, transportation, and inclusive programming perpetuate the gap.
• Sexual Health and Reproductive Justice for People with Disabilities
  This session will examine sexual health and reproductive justice for people with disabilities within a public health framework. Topics may include the rights of disabled people to have children, not have children, and to parent with dignity and support, as well as access to comprehensive, inclusive sexual and reproductive healthcare, education, and information. Submissions may also address sexuality, relationships, sexual identity, and maternal and child health outcomes for disabled people and their families, with attention to structural barriers, health inequities, and intersectional impacts.
• Surveillance and Data
  This session will examine public health surveillance systems, datasets, and research methods that include people with disabilities. Topics may address equity in data collection, measurement, and evaluation, as well as approaches to monitoring disparities in health, social determinants, economic security, and employment among people with disabilities. Submissions are encouraged to highlight methodological innovations, gaps in existing data systems, and strategies to strengthen disability-inclusive surveillance for public health research, policy, and practice.

Preference will be given to abstracts that feature originality. The selection process will also consider innovative approaches, potential impact on the field, clarity of presentation, reliance on high-quality scientific data, policy and practice implications, and program evaluation.

 

Abstracts are limited to 250 words. Abstracts are reviewed anonymously and rated based on the following criteria:

1. importance of the issue or problem addressed;
2. clarity of content;
3. the soundness of the methodology and conceptual framework used;
4. substantive findings or recommendations;
5. relevance to a broad audience; and
6. applicability to improving public health for people with disabilities.

 

Abstracts accepted for presentation will be for either a 15 to 20-minute oral presentation or a 60-minute poster session. Abstracts accepted for APHA’s Annual Meeting may not be presented at any other meeting or published in any journal before November 2026.

 

Research in the pilot or development stages, small-scale studies, and project descriptions without a significant evidence base are best suited to poster presentations.

 

Student submissions are encouraged, and students should indicate their status when submitting their abstracts.

 

Abstract submissions open in February 2026 for those interested in submitting an abstract for the film festival.

 

Attention students and early-career professionals: Scholarships will be available upon funding approval. Please note that scholarships are limited, and applicants will be required to submit a separate application at a later date. Further details will be forthcoming.

 

Presentation requirements: While it is not necessary to be a member of APHA to submit an abstract, all presenters must be members of APHA and must register for the annual meeting. Presentations must be accessible and adhere to Disability Section guidelines for accessibility.

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Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

Emre Umucu, PhD, MPH, MBA
eumucu@utep.edu


and

Robyn Powell, JD, PhD
rpowell3@law.stetson.edu


and

Sarah Hall, PhD, MPA
Sarah.Hall@byu.edu