APHA brings national attention to the health equity imperative to address systemic barriers for people with disabilities.
Up to 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability, which is defined by the CDC as any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult to do certain activities and interact with the world around you.
Join us in promoting inclusive disability programs and practices that support everyone’s ability to thrive by checking out our featured resources below.
Latest Updates
Intellectual and Development Disabilities Primer
In June, APHA released a new resource, “Addressing Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities as a Health Equity Imperative: A Primer for Public Health Professionals.”
This primer helps public health professionals understand more about people with IDD, specific challenges and barriers to achieving health equity for this community, and promising strategies for creating a more inclusive and accessible public health system for all.
Why is disability a health equity issue?
Adults with disabilities are more likely to have health problems like heart disease and diabetes than adults without disabilities. They also have more barriers to health care: they are less likely to have a usual health care provider, more likely to have unmet health care needs due to cost and are less likely to get yearly check-ups.
When individuals with disabilities do not receive the support they need, they face significant obstacles to health-promoting services. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act established in 1990 that is it illegal to discriminate against a person with a disability, many systems that promote health are still not accessible for many with disabilities. These systems, like public transportation, quality education and housing, and quality medical care are crucial to the public health system that supports each person’s right to live and thrive.
Intellectual and Development Disabilities
Intellectual disabilities are limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptative behavior.
Developmental disabilities result in functional limitations related to major life activities, such as communication, mobility and/or learning.
Both intellectual and developmental disabilities occur before age 22.
Our Work on Intellectual and Developmental Disability
APHA is proud to leverage our extensive network of public health professionals to center the experiences of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in broader conversations and strategies to advance health equity for all.
Our work is supported in part by the Special Olympics Systems Change for Inclusive Health subgrant, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Advisory Board:
APHA welcomed eight members of the disability community to join our Intellectual Disability Advisory Board. This advisory board serves as a group to advise APHA on all project activities related to our work with centering the experiences of people with IDD in conversations about health equity.
Supplement in The Nation's Health:
The June 2024 issue of The Nation’s Health newspaper includes an 8-page special section, Improving health and equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, dedicated to showcasing people with IDD and the work they are doing in their communities. This special section also includes information about promising training programs and advocacy for people with IDD.
National Public Health Week Webinar:
During National Public Health Week 2024, APHA hosted a webinar, Making Spaces Inclusive & Accessible: A Conversation on Intellectual Disabilities & Equity, that included panelists with IDD who engaged in a conversation about advancing health equity and specific challenges they have faced to achieving optimal health and advancing equity for all.
Anniversary of the ADA:
Enacted on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act has been a beacon of hope and a testament to our collective commitment to creating a society where every individual, regardless of their abilities, has the opportunity to thrive.
As APHA recognizes this important day, we reflect on the progress we have made and the work that still lies ahead. Inclusion and accessibility are not just legal requirements—they are moral imperatives. Every day, we have the chance to contribute to a culture of respect, understanding and support for people of all abilities.
Additional Resources