About Public Health

Public Health Background and Priorities

Before COVID-19 occurred in 2020, it was stated in the CDC’s Health disparities in Inequalities Report that compared to people without disabilities, people with disabilities are at a higher risk for poor health outcomes such as hypertension, obesity, falls-related injuries, and depression. In the United States, it is estimated that 1 in 4 people have a disability . People with disabilities are less likely to receive the regular, preventive healthcare services needed to stay healthy. Due to decisions made at the policy, system, and local environment level, people with disabilities are overburdened by specific social determinants of health related to the built environment, financial stress, and transportation access. Although these barriers may impact the ability of people with disabilities to physically access healthcare providers, provider attitudes towards people with disabilities can significantly impact the quality of healthcare received by these individuals. These barriers to accessing preventative healthcare services are contributing factors in the premature mortality, increase in chronic diseases, and higher incidence of communicable diseases seen in people with disabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated disparities in health outcomes for people with disabilities where they were more likely to become infected with COVID-19 and for those who became infected, experienced an increased risk of severe illness and mortality compared to persons without disabilities.*

AUCD’s Public Health Team uses evidence-based methods of communities of practice (CoP) and action learning to further enhance the capacity of its network, and key partners in five key areas of health disparity among people with disabilities post COVID-19:

1. Mental health distress
2. Chronic disease management
3. Strain on families and community providers
4. Strain on community-based services and disruption to home and community-based care
5. Limited advancement in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities

*Please note the following references: Marrocco, 2017, Greaux, 2023, and Okoro, 2018