All products listed on this page were created by the Ohio Disability and Health Program and include our Public Health Needs Assessment, Factsheets, and Policy Briefs. Please use and share the resources listed on this page. Check back for new additions.
Resources to Improve Website Access For People with Disabilities
To better reach accessibility needs among people with disabilities, ODHP has constructed a brief report that details how the Bureau of Environmental Health and Radiation can both check to see if their online documents are accessible and, if not, fix such documents so that they are accessible to all individuals and are in compliance with Section 508 Rehabilitation Act. More specifically, the report details guidelines for creating accessible files, webpages, and presentations.
Ohio Department of Health Accessibility Guide: Resources to Improve Website Access For People with Disabilities (PDF)
Public Health Needs Assessment
To inform and guide program activities, ODHP conducted a public health needs assessment of children and adults with disabilities living in Ohio. Data from this assessment is presented in two reports, the Disability and Health in Ohio Public Health Needs Assessment and the 2013 Ohio Disability Data Report. The findings from this public health needs assessment will be used to inform and guide ODHP’s strategic plan. The data gathered will help ODHP to identify better strategies while bolstering various activities underway. Some of the results will also serve as a baseline for ODHP to measure the progress and impact of the program. Beyond ODHP, it is encouraged that other partners, organizations, programs, and individuals review and utilize these reports to move forward on the mission of improving the health outcomes and lives of people with disabilities in Ohio.
Disability and Health in Ohio: Public Health Needs Assessment (PDF)
This report provides information on disability prevalence for the Ohio populace as well as access to health care, health promotion, and emergency preparedness for people with and without disabilities. It incorporates data from multiple population surveys to provide a snapshot of disability in Ohio. Additionally, qualitative data and quotes obtained from statewide open forums and results from an online survey are presented throughout this report. A separate document, the 2013 Ohio Disability Data Report, summarizes just the quantitative findings from the population surveys (see below).
2013 Ohio Disabilty Data Report (PDF)
This report provides information on disability prevalence for the population of Ohio as well as measures of access to health care, and health behaviors for people with and without disabilities. It incorporates data from multiple population surveys to provide a snapshot of disability in Ohio. A separate document, the Disability and Health in Ohio Public Health Needs Assessment, includes these quantitative findings and also reports on qualitative data from statewide open forums and an online survey (see above).
Disability and Health among Ohio Youth – 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Factsheets
In 2013, disability identifiers were added to the Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a statewide survey evaluating the health risk behaviors of Ohio high school students in grades 9 through 12. The Ohio Disability and Health Program analyzed the 2013 YRBS data and found that youth with disabilities face disparities in areas including rates of bullying, substance use, self-harm, and other health indicators. Two factsheets and one brochure were created to share these findings with policy makers, educators, healthcare providers, public health professionals, and the public. PDFs of each material can be downloaded below.
For more information about the YRBS, please visit the Ohio Department of Health’s “Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey” webpage.
Smoking Among Ohioans with Disabilities (PDF)
The Ohio Disability and Health Program has released a factsheet on smoking among people with disabilities in Ohio. Did you know that in Ohio, 39% of people with disabilities (PWD) smoke versus 22% of people without disabilities? This is a 17 percentage point difference, and it is the highest smoking rate disparity among PWD compared to people without disabilities in the United States. Smoking accounts for half a million deaths yearly and is of particular concern among PWD because they are at a high risk for smoking and smoking-related illnesses. This factsheet discusses the barriers that limit the participation of PWD in smoking cessation programs, smoking’s impact on health, the health benefits of quitting smoking, and what ODHP is doing to combat smoking disparities among PWD in Ohio.
ODHP Disability Infographic (PDF)
This infographic, produced by the Ohio Disability and Health Program (ODHP), is a handy tool that gives a quick overview of the health related challenges and disparities faced by people with disabilities (PWD) in our state. It also includes information about disability prevalence across the state and how the ODHP is working to improve health promotion, access to care, and emergency preparedness for PWD in Ohio.
The Double Burden: Health Disparities among People of Color Living with Disabilities (PDF)
Public health and health policy experts agree on the need to assess health disparities and healthcare inequities experienced by people of color and other historically disadvantaged groups. However, these assessments often fail to include disability identifiers so that the health of members of historically disadvantaged groups who also have a disability can be understood. The Ohio Disability and Health Program (ODHP) has released an evidence-based policy brief, The Double Burden: Health Disparities among People of Color Living with Disabilities, which explores the health disparity-amplifying phenomenon experienced by racial and ethnic minorities who have disabilities and discusses the need to collect disability data and/or identifiers, together with racial and ethnic data, to improve the health of all people.
The Affordable Care Act: Impact on People with Disabilities (PDF)
On March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law. This new law contains several provisions that will benefit people with disabilities (PWD) by expanding access to insurance coverage, improving long term supports and services for PWD, enhancing protections for PWD, and improving accessibility and quality of health care for PWD. Many of the provisions have been in effect since 2010, while others will come in 2014. This brief from ODHP goes over the ways in which the ACA will impact people with disabilities.
The Importance of Defining Habilitation (PDF)
This document, created by the Ohio Disability and Health Program for your reference, explains the issue of defining habilitation in further detail.
Medical Facility Accessibility Guide from the Ohio Disability and Health Program (ODHP) – Add Page
On this page, ODHP outlines the need for training for healthcare providers on working with people with developmental and other disabilities. Training resources for healthcare providers are listed as well as resources for assessing and improving the physical accessibility of healthcare facilities.
Smoking Cessation Resources for People with Disabilities (PWD)
The Ohio Disability and Health Program and the Ohio Department of Health’s Tobacco Program teamed up to create smoking cessation materials that target PWD, including 2 Posters promoting the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line and 1 Brochure that includes information about the benefits of quitting smoking for PWD and tips to help caregivers, physicians, healthcare staff and other direct service providers encourage smoking cessation among the PWD they serve. These materials are appropriate for distribution or display at any facility or organization that serves PWD in Ohio. All materials are provided free of charge. Please consider ordering materials for your organization. To order, please fill out the Fillable Order Form (PDF) and e-mail directly to the Ohio Department of Health at: firstname.lastname@example.org
View the materials and download PDFs here:
Fillable Order Form (PDF)
“Break Free from Tobacco” – Trifold Informational Brochure for People with Disabilities and Caregivers (PDF)
“Cancer Doesn’t Discriminate” – 8×11 Ohio Tobacco Quit Line Poster (Wheelchair Hallway) (PDF)
“Break Free from Tobacco” – 8×11 Ohio Tobacco Quit Line Poster (Grafitti Wall) (PDF)