Advances in the integration of persons with disabilities in public health programs through surveillance, protocol and policy: Examples from the New York State department of health disability and health program

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Disability and Health Program (DHP) has utilized data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to document disparities experienced by New Yorkers with disabilities and advance integration efforts. These data were instrumental in garnering agency support for the DHP to develop an inclusion policy which became a requirement for procurements released by the NYSDOH Center for Community Health (CCH). The policy requires programs to incorporate strategies throughout procurements to ensure persons with disabilities are integrated in funded initiatives. Since adoption of the policy in 2009, the DHP has participated in the development of 21 procurements for a broad range of public health initiatives, which had not previously addressed disability. These procurements have established 340 contracts with an aggregate value of $123.7 million. Continued policy implementation supports sustainable integration of persons with disabilities in public health programs funded by the CCH.