Public Health is for Everyone An inclusive planning toolkit for public health professionals

An infographic that providex information about the 61 million adults in the United States that re living with a disability. Use this infographic to join CDC and its partners to work together to improve the health of people living with disabiltiies. 

About 1 in 4, or 61 million, U.S. adults reports having some form of a disability. Disability is part of the human experience, but sometimes people use words or phrases that are insensitive and do not promote understanding, dignity, and respect for people with disabilities. Most often than not, this is not intentional, but is disrespectful just the same. Use this factsheet to learn more about plain language and tips for communicating with and about people with disabilities.

Adults with disabilities experience significant health disparities compared to adults without disabilities. To improve the health of this population, state epidemiologists, researchers and public health professionals need access to accurate and timely data to inform their state’s health promotion activities. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created Disability and Health Data System (DHDS) to provide quick and easy access to data on demographics and health information for adults with disabilities. Learn more about DHDS in this informative factsheet.

The CDC-funded New Hampshire Disability and Public Health project (DPH) is a collaboration between the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability and NH Division of Public Health Services. The project goal, to promote and maximize health, prevent chronic disease, improve emergency preparedness and increase the quality of life among people with disabilities, is achieved through activities that focus on infusing disability components into existing public health programs and initiatives.

Individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and their families have new expectations for life after high school, including attending college, becoming employed, managing personal assistance services and transportation, and having intimate relations. However, the vocabulary needed to support these socially-valued adult roles is frequently not be available in pre-programmed devices nor in commonly used visual symbol systems. This website contains vocabulary needed to participate in 8 socially-valued adult roles:

• College Life
• Emergency Preparedness
• Employment
• Sexuality, Intimacy, and Sex
• Reporting Crime and Abuse
• Managing Personal Assistance Services
• Managing Health Care, and
• Using Transportation

This guidance is for a broad audience, including emergency professionals across settings and sectors of government, education, business, and nonprofits. People with disabilities and others with access and functional needs are a diverse and large part of every community. Combined, these individuals can represent over 50 percent of your population and include people who have no or limited abilities to run, walk, stand, climb, see, hear, read, speak, understand or remember. These are people who may need additional, targeted response assistance to:

1. Maintain their health, safety, and independence in an emergency 
2. Receive, understand and act on emergency information
3. Evacuate during an emergency

Planning ahead for inclusion can help to create an event that is welcoming to everybody. Here are some guidelines to consider when organizing meetings and events.

This checklist is designed to help any person, group, or organization plan a meeting or conference that is inclusive and welcoming for everyone. It offers helpful suggestions in many areas of event planning, including choosing a location, using respectful language for registration questions about accommodations, and tips on refreshments and meals. Its purpose is to provide practical recommendations that promote meaningful participation for everyone.