How can you use this information?
The information in this Chartbook can be shared with leaders and
decision makers in your community, state, or territory. It is
important that everyone understands that a person with a disability
can be as healthy as someone without a disability. But, if people
with disabilities smoke too much, do not get enough exercise, or
cannot get health care, then they may not be as healthy. Laws,
policies, and programs that help people with healthy choices and
behaviors or remove barriers to them will ensure that people with
disabilities have the best chance of being healthy.
For example, a person who uses a wheelchair may want to take a class
about how to stop smoking—the building where the class is located
needs to have ramps and elevators so that a person can get to the
class. A person with poor eyesight may need information in large
print about how to exercise. These are two examples of how people
with disabilities can have access to the health resources used by
people who do not have a disability.
Where can you get more information about improving the health of
people with disabilities?
Many resources about how people with disabilities can improve their
health are available to them, their families, and service providers.
The organizations in the following section can provide information
to people across the country about how to improve their health. In
addition, your local or state health department is also a good
resource for health programs available in your community.
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Date: August 30, 2006
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities