2019 New Hampshire Disability & Public Health Report

1 in 5 New Hampshire adults, or more than 237,000 people, have a disability. This includes disabilities related to hearing, vision, mobility, and cognition

 

Compared to adults without disabilities, NH adults with disabilities are

7x

seven times more likely to report
their health as "fair" or "poor"

2.5x

two and a half times more likely
not to exercise

2x

twice as likely to delay needed
medical care due to cost

3x

three times more likely to have
diabetes and/or heart disease

Compared to adults without disabilities, New Hampshire adults with disabilities are 5 times more likely to have a yearly household income less than $15,000; 3 times more likely to have less than a high school education; and 2 times more likely not to be employed for wages or self-employed.

Strategies to improve the health of New Hampshire adults with disabilities:

 

  • Promote health programs through organizations known to reach disability communities;
  • Actively recruit and include people with disabilities in public health programs;
  • Develop health education materials with plain language and easy-to-understand images;
  • Invest in systems that can improve the social determinants of health for all NH residents; and
  • Contact the NH Disability & Public Health Project (DPH) for technical assistance.