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Arkansas Disability and Health Program

January 23, 2009

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Project Objectives

The Arkansas Disability and Health Program's core objectives are to:

  • Sustain Advisory Board
  • Revise/Update Strategic Plan
  • Train Arkansas Department of Health management & leadership personnel
  • Participate in public health planning activities
  • Review public health programs/services to make accessibility recommendations
  • Raise awareness through conference presentations and exhibits
  • Conduct surveillance through BRFSS/YRBS
  • Publish annual chartbooks

Module A: Implementing Evidence-based Intervetions

  • Implement Living Well with a Disability at IL Centers
  • Implement Stanford Chronic Disease Self Management at IL Centers

Module B: Wellness through improving access, health promotion, and health marketing/communication

  • Implement Right to Know Campaign
  • Improve accessibility of mammography centers

Module C: Emergency Preparedness

  • Participate in state level "Special Populations" workgroup
  • Disseminate emergency preparedness information
  • Improve emergency preparedness/response for people with disabilities in one county to create a model for the state
  • Train first responders regarding disability
  • Guide people with disabilities and caregivers in emergency planning

Project Synopsis

The Arkansas Disability & Health Program strives to improve the health and wellness of individuals with disabilities in Arkansas through a variety of venues.

The Arkansas Disability & Health Program co-sponsors with the Arkansas Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council the Annual DD Conference annually. This conference provides a health and wellness track and is well attended by individuals with developmental disabilities, their staff/family, and service providers. On average there are about 650 people in attendance.

The Arkansas Disability & Health Program has offices at the Arkansas Department of Health were we work to include disability information into the health promotion activities in which they are currently involved. Through involvement in public health planning activities (Chronic Disease State Planning Forum, Cardiovascular Task Force, Arthritis Foundation, Partners in Planning, Obesity Coalition, etc..), the Arkansas Disability & Health Program works to address the chronic health issues of people with disabilities.

As part of Module A - Health Interventions, we are training facilitators at the Independent Living Centers around the state to provide the Living Well with a Disability and the Stanford Chronic Disease Self Management program. This will increase their capacity to improve the health of the clients of independent living centers. We expect to have a team of trainer at each Independent Living Center for both curricula and offer the programs at least once per year.

As part of Module B - Health Promotion, we have partnered with Arkansas BreastCare (program funds mammograms for women who fit their eligibility criteria). Accessibility Ambassadors survey mammography clinics in Central Arkansas and provide information and technical assistance in making the clinic more accessible. We plan to promote breast care awareness with the Right to Know campaign and a Kick Off of the campaign. In this module we will work to track women with disabilities using Arkansas BreastCare and increase the likelihood that women with disabilities will get their annual mammograms as recommended.

As part of Module C - Emergency Preparedness, we are addressing emergency preparedness as a variety of levels. We are working with Washington County Office of Emergency Management and their Local Emergency Planning Council to include people with disabilities in local county level planning efforts. This will provide a model example of how other counties across Arkansas can make improvements. We are also working with the disability service providers to encourage both emergency planning for the individuals they serve and business continuity planning. We plan to train 150 direct support staff on emergency planning for the individuals they serve. As part of these efforts we are also offering training for first responders on effective inclusive response to disaster victims who have disabilities. We plan to offer 3 trainings per year for first responders.

Key Partners

  • AARP Arkansas
  • Arkansas BreastCare
  • Arkansas Can Do, Inc.
  • Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Aging & Adult Services
  • Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
  • Arkansas Department of Health
  • Arkansas Governor's Commission on People with Disabilities
  • Arkansas Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council
  • Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
  • Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission
  • Department of Emergency Management Washington County
  • Disability Rights Center
  • Several Community Based Developmental Disability Service Providers
  • Several Independent Living Centers
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Department of Family & Preventative Medicine
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Department of Pediatrics

Selected Presentations and Publications

  • disABILITY WELLNESS - quarterly newsletter
  • 2008 & 2009 Emergency Preparedness Calendar & Guide
  • 2005 Chartbook on Disability in Arkansas
  • Toolkit on Including People with Disabilities in Health Promotion Campaigns
  • Health Promotion Bookmark
  • 3 different Public Service Announcements
  • Report on the Health of People with Developmental Disabilities in Arkansas
  • Arkansas's Strategic Plan for Promoting the Health and Wellness of People with Disabilities