The Disability and Secondary Conditions focus area contributes to increased quality and years of healthy life and the elimination of disparities through objectives that aim to increase participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in public health efforts as well as in everyday aspects of life. The objectives for disability and secondary conditions address the elimination of disparities in two ways: by seeking to eliminate disparities between people with and without disabilities, and by addressing health disparities among select populations of people with disabilities.

The midcourse review provides some of the first U.S. data comparing populations within the disability community that address quality of life and disparities. Disparities are noted between people with and without disabilities, as well as among populations within the disability community based on education, income, gender, and race ethnicity. This focus area shows improvements in including people with disabilities in national and State health surveillance, including children with disabilities in regular classrooms and reducing their rates for sadness, and reducing the numbers of adults with disabilities in congregate care (large, out-of-home) facilities. The reasons for this progress cannot be ascribed to any particular program activity. However, the availability of technology, accessible features in homes and modes of transportation, and policy shifts toward inclusion are likely contributing factors to this progress.