Disability News

Healthy People 2010 Objectives For People With Disabilities

The 1979 U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Healthy People established the Healthy People initiative. Under this initiative, the  U.S. health plan is updated every 10 years.  Recommendations made during the Healthy People 2000 progress review included developing health objectives for people with disabilities; and examining their health and receipt of clinical preventive services. Building on those recommendations, people with disabilities are represented in 207 of the 467 objectives that span 21 of the 28 Healthy People 2010 chapters.  However, data on people with disabilities are available for only 88 of those 207 objectives.  Chapter 6 of the plan specifically contains 13 objectives that focus on promoting the health and well-being of children and adults with disabilities across their lifespan. Chapter 6 is co-led by the CDC's, Disability and Health Team and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research at the U.S. Department of Education.

DATA2010, an on-line database, contains baseline and tracking data for the 467 Healthy People 2010 objectives. Update quarterly, the system permits users to access data by–focus area or Leading Health Indicator, data source, specific objective, and specific population group. Moreover, data can be charted and exported in a number of formats. State data are available for selected objectives. DATA2010 also includes data for the indicators used to track Steps to a Healthier US. Disability data can be viewed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/data2010/focus.htm
 
The 10 Leading Health Indicators developed for the Healthy People 2010 initiative represent the top health issues in America. These health issues can be addressed with concerted effort. The indicators and the 22 supporting objectives are described on the main Healthy People Web site. http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/LHI/default.htm. People with disabilities are represented in 12 of the 22 objectives that support the 10 indicators. The Disability and Health Team is examining national data on people with disabilities for the 10 leading health indicators. 

Please contact us if you or any qualified individual with a disability you know in Rhode Island has been discriminated against. Do not let anyone get away with violating the ADA.

	Did You Know?
	Accessibility is mandated by the US government As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, removal of barriers that would hinder a person with a disability from entering, functioning, and working within a facility. Required restructuring of the facility cannot cause undue hardship for the employer.