NACCHO’s Health and Disability program recently released five new resources for local health departments designed to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in all public health programs, products, and services.

New fact sheets include:

• “What Local Health Departments Should Know About the Population of People with Disabilities,” which provides health departments with a better understanding about working with the population of people with disabilities. It highlights the importance of including this population in public health programs, products, outreach and services.
• “Including People with Disabilities in Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Smoking Programs Offered by Local Health Departments,” which emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle for people with disabilities and provides recommendations for how local health departments can include people with disabilities in their smoking and obesity prevention programs.
• “Including People with Disabilities in Reproductive Health Programs and Services,” which highlights the importance of including people with disabilities in reproductive health programs and services offered by health departments.

Additionally, NACCHO interviewed staff from two local health departments to find out how they are being inclusive of people with disabilities. Findings from these interviews are included in the following success stories:

• “Health and Disability Success Story: Region 2 of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health”; and
• “Kent County Health Department: A Story of Successful Inclusion of People with Disabilities.”

People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by obstacles to their health when compared to the general population. Among other health status inequities, they are more likely to be obese, and smoke, and less likely to be included in emergency preparedness planning. NACCHO works to reverse such oversight by advocating for the inclusion and engagement of people with disabilities in the planning, implementing, and evaluating of public health programs. Through its Health and Disability Program, NACCHO supports local health departments (LHDs) in this effort with numerous strategies, recommendations, tools, and resources.

NACCHO’s Health and Disability program is a vehicle to educate local health departments about health and disability activities and resources, maintain a peer assistance network, and to develop and share model practices related to health promotion activities for people with disabilities.