Disability and Health Program

Mission

The Disability and Health Program promotes the health and wellness for people with disabilities through inclusive self-management evidence based programs; monitors, supports and implements effective healthcare transition from pediatric to adulthood within a positive youth development framework that promotes self determination and an activated patient model; provides professional development for practitioners working with people with disabilities, including training, targeted technical assistance, and access to assistive technology; and addresses special needs of people with disabilities in health promotion programs, health strategic planning, emergency preparedness, preventative health screening programs, and healthcare facility access. ¿ Increase access to quality of health-related data of people with disabilities in RI and utilize epidemiology and evaluation analysis to monitor the health disparities.

2010 Accomplishments and Milestones

• Presented Traumatic Brain Injury data and program fact sheets to over 500 Rhode Islanders.
• Invited to present poster series at 2011 Joint Annual Meeting of the Safe States Alliance, the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR), & CDC Core I & II State Injury Grantees Conference.

What We Do

• Promote health and wellness for people with disabilities.
• Conduct disability surveillance.
• Monitor effective transition of healthcare from adolescence to adulthood.
• Support community programs that prevent secondary conditions resulting from disabilities and chronic health issues.
• Provide professional development for practitioners working with people with disabilities.
• Provide practitioners with greater access to assistive technology.