Dr. Bonnielin Swenor, a nationally recognized disability health equity advocate, delivered a powerful keynote at Georgia State University’s Public Health Research Symposium, emphasizing data-driven strategies to confront ableism and promote inclusion across healthcare, research, and policy. Her lecture marked the first time Center for Leadership in Disability (GSU UCEDD) co-led the selection of an endowed speaker, spotlighting disability justice and lived experience as essential components of health equity.
Bonnielin Swenor, Endowed Professor of Disability Health and Justice at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and founding director of its Disability Health Research Center, delivered the Kreuter Katz Lecture at the Public Health Research Symposium at Georgia State University's School of Public Health in April.
Dr. Swenor's address, titled "Removing Roadblocks to Health Equity for People with Disabilities: Translating Data to Policy," focused on data-driven strategies to promote disability inclusion, confront ableism, and improve accessibility across healthcare, research, and public policy. Dr. Swenor described collaborative advocacy efforts that led to the September 2023 National Institutes of Health (NIH) designation of people with disabilities as a population experiencing health disparities. She also discussed her work, increasing pathways to leadership and funding opportunities for disabled researchers through the lens of disability justice.
The lecture was powerful for many reasons. It was the first time the Center for Leadership in Disability (GSU UCEDD) had been involved in inviting the endowed lecture series speaker – and, as a result, it was the first time the lecture centered on disability health equity and featured a researcher with a disability. During her talk, Dr. Swenor shared her journey of losing her vision while applying to public health programs and emphasized the importance of representation and accessibility in shaping inclusive systems. "We cannot talk about health equity without including people with disabilities," she said.
The NIH's designation is a significant step toward including people with disabilities in public health, but, as Dr. Swenor and others note, it is just the beginning. Moving forward will require ongoing collaboration, advocacy, and ensuring that the voices of people with disabilities are included in all decisions. Dr. Swenor concluded, quoting the late disability rights activist Judy Heumann, "Meaningful change requires persistent collective action and strategic effort."
View Original Article
