State strategies for promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles for people with disabilities

There are significant health inequities that lead to inadequate access to preventive health and other health promotion services among people with disabilities. State health agencies play a key role in ensuring that people with disabilities have access to these essential health services. A qualitative assessment was completed to determine how state health agencies have collaborated with state disability and health programs to develop, coordinate, and implement evidence-based approaches to inclusive programming and environments for people with disabilities; provide information on how to reduce barriers for people with disabilities; and develop recommended strategies that states may consider to reduce barriers for people with disabilities. While these programs are currently limited, indicating room for growth at the national and state levels, a number of state health agencies have collaborated with their state disability and health programs to develop a variety of initiatives around issues related to access, women’s health, health promotion training and curricula for consumers and providers, emergency preparedness, physical activity, and worksite health promotion. Even for states that do not have specific disability and health programs, there are a number of strategies that state health agencies can implement to ensure people with disabilities are included in health promotion services and activities. As public health moves toward integrating disability into its overall agenda, state health agencies need to continue to prioritize accessibility. By reducing physical, environmental, programmatic, and attitudinal and cultural barriers, state health agencies can reduce systems costs, promote health and well-being, and achieve better health outcomes for all people.