In New Hampshire (NH), one-in-five adults experiences a disability. This and other findings are highlighted in the 2019 New Hampshire Disability & Public Health Report.
Released by the NH Disability & Public Health Project (DPH), this year’s concise report provides information on health disparities and health risk factors experienced by individuals with disabilities in NH. It also suggests strategies to improve the health of people with disabilities. Some findings highlighted include that compared to NH adults without disabilities, NH adults with disabilities are:
- Twice as likely to delay needed medical care due to cost,
- Three times more likely to have diabetes and/or heart disease, and
- Five times more likely to have a yearly household income below $15,000
“There are many strategies that New Hampshire can use to improve health outcomes for New Hampshire adults with disabilities,” explains Kimberly Phillips, project Principal Investigator and co-author of the report. “This includes active recruitment and inclusion of people with disabilities in public health programs and an investment in systems that can improve social determinants of health for all NH residents.”
You can access the full report and learn more about the work DPH is engaged in to improve the health and wellness of people with disabilities and how you can get involved on their website www.nhdisabilityhealth.org.
The NH Disability & Public Health Project (DPH), funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cooperative agreement number 1NU27DD000007, is a collaboration between the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire and the NH Division of Public Health Services. The project goal is to improve the health and quality of life of people with disabilities in NH by developing and strengthening the capacity of the state’s public health programs and initiatives to be accessible to and include people with intellectual disabilities and mobility limitations. The contents of this report are the responsibility of DPH staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
