Who We Are

The NH Disability and Health Program improves the health of people with disabilities in NH, using evidence-based strategies to increase access to preventive health care and encourage healthy behaviors.

DHP Team

Meet the Disability and Health Advisory Work Group (DHAWG)

The Disability and Health Advisory Work Group (DHAWG) provides guidance and feedback on program activity. Their efforts support the program to:

  • Better understand the needs and gaps in information, resources, and barriers to engagement with healthcare services and health promotion programs among adults with IDD or mobility disabilities
  • Develop an action plan to address needs and gaps in for preventive health care and health promotion programs among adults with IDD or mobility disabilities
  • Strengthened efforts to facilitate accessible healthcare visits and health promotion programs for adults with IDD or mobilities disabilities
  • Enhanced DHP activities and reach through partnerships with complementary public health programs

Partner Organizations

If you are interested in joining the DHAWG, please send us an email describing your interest in the advisory group and experience with disability and/or health and wellness.

screenshot from a DHP Disability and Health Advisory Work Group (DHAWG) zoom meeting

The Disability and Health Advisory Work Group (DHAWG) from December 2022 showing the following people from left to right, top to bottom: Emilia Poehlman, Megan Henly, Kathy Bates, Yusi Turrell, Laura Remick, Deborah Ritcey, Martha McLeod, Toni Sumner-Beebe, Isadora Rodriquez-Legendre, Carol Conforti-Adams, Kelly Ehrhart, Jennifer McLaren, Lisa Plotnik, Tracy Walbridge, Cindy Lafond

    

Advisory Committee

Emily Bird, MS, ACSM-CPT, ACE-HC
Program Planner, NH Div. of Public Health Services, DHHS
Concord, NH

Carol Conforti-Adams
Executive Director, Sunset Hill Educational Institute
South Sutton, NH

Kelly Ehrhart
Disability Advocate, President of People First of NH
Nashua, NH

John Fenley
Disability Advocate
Lebanon, NH

Cindy M. Lafond
Director of Healthy Living Initiatives, Granite YMCA
Mancester, NH

Kelly Main, RN
Nurse Coordinator, Bureau of Developmental Services, DHHS
Concord, NH

Jennifer McLaren, MD
Dartmouth Health
Lebanon, NH

Martha McLeod
VP of Community Engagement, New Futures
Concord, NH

Jennifer Pineo
Lead Trainer, New Hampshire Family Voices
Concord, NH

Lisa Plotnik, MD, FAAP
Dartmouth Health
Manchester, NH

Brittany Potvin
Disability Advocate
Milton, NH

Laura Remick, Med, CHES
Workforce & Education Coordinator, North Country Health Consortium
Littleton, NH

Deb Ritcey
President and CEO, Granite State Independent Living
Concord, NH

Isadora Rodriguez-Legendre
Executive Director, NH Council on Developmental Disabilities
Concord, NH

Bob Scholz,
Director of Resource Center Services, The Center for START Services
Concord, NH

Val Tetreault, MAAP
START State Director, Community Bridges
Concord, NH