Project Description:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Disability & Health Data System, 2013 data shows that 30% of Arkansans report a disability as compared to only 22.4% nationally. When looking at specific populations of disabilities, the results are similar. In Arkansas 16.8% of individuals have a cognitive disability as compared to 10.7% nationally. And when looking at mobility limitations the rates are 18% and 13.1% respectively. Not only does Arkansas have higher disability rates than the nation, but Arkansans with disabilities are in poorer health than their non-disabled peers. People with disabilities are twice as likely to smoke, 2 to 3 times as likely to have diabetes, and 3 times as likely to have heart disease as Arkansans without disabilities.
Individuals with disabilities are engaging in more risky behaviors known to lead to chronic diseases. Obesity for Arkansans is a challenge with 30% of the population being obese. People with mobility limitations are more at risk of obesity at 46.8% than even individuals with cognitive disabilities at 40.1%. While 45.7% of Arkansans without disabilities report sufficient aerobic exercise, only 23.2% of individuals with mobility limitations and 33.4% of individuals with cognitive disabilities can say the same.
The purpose of the Arkansas Disability and Health Program, if funded, would be to promote inclusion and accessibility in public health programs and reducing health disparities between people with and without disabilities. There is a focus in this application on cardiovascular disease and diabetes and their related risk factors (smoking, obesity, physical activity, and healthy weight).
ADHP is proposing to address these health disparities with 10 initiatives ADHP Advisory Board, Public Health Coalitions, Policy Change, Universal Design, Health Promotion and Inclusion, Built Environment, Accessible Community Gardens, Accessible Farmers Markets, Diabetes Education, and Tele-Rehab Educational Interventions for people with Spinal Cord Injury and Health Care Professionals. Each initiative intervenes at more than one level of influence, individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, or state.
The work plan developed in this application is designed to address the short and intermediate outcomes. The short term outcomes of this application are: increased knowledge and awareness of health risk factors, improved collaboration with partners, improved data collection methods, and increased availability and use of health promotion resources, tools, and inclusion strategies. The intermediate outcomes that will be addressed are: improved organizational capacity, improved monitoring of health and health care utilization, increased participation in evidenced-based and innovative promotion programs, increased use of programmatic, policy, systems, and environmental changes, and improved evidence-base for health promotion programs.
ADHP is applying for a Core Implementation Program with Enhanced Implementation Activities. After many years of not having access to Medicaid or payor medical data, ADHP proposes to collaborate with the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement to provide analysis of this data already in their possession. With this, and our years of experience and expertise we hope to not only improve the health of Arkansans with disabilities, but work with a new disability and health program building their capacity.
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Specific Groups, Other
