People with Disabilities Designated as a Population with Health Disparities

From Justice in Aging

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) designated people with disabilities as a population with health disparities for research supported by the National Institutes of Health.  The disability advocacy community fought for this designation for years.  The designation recognizes that social disadvantage causes people with disabilities to experience disparate rates of illness, morbidity, mortality, and survival compared to the general population.  It will encourage research specific to the health issues and unmet health needs people with disabilities face and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities as researchers and participants.