Kansas Disability and Health Program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded the Kansas Disability and Health Program (DHP) for 2016-2021. The DHP helps improve the health and quality of life of Kansans with disabilities by increasing access to programs and services that promote healthy living. Download the Kansas Disability and Health Program description (PDF).

The DHP focuses on people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) and people with mobility limitations, but our mission is to improve the health of all Kansans with disabilities. The progam improves consumers’ access to and knowledge about three important health areas: 

• Oral Health 

• Nutrition 

• Physical Health 

The DHP adapts and offers programs in these areas that have been shown to be effective. 

Meeting a Need 

People with disabilities need public health programs and health care services for the same reasons everyone does – to be healthy, active, and part of their community. In Kansas, about 25% of the population has some kind of disability, which often makes it difficult to live a healthy lifestyle. 

Research shows that for Kansans with disabilities: 

• 44% report fair or poor health. 

• Nearly 45% are obese. 

• Only 40% meet physical activity guidelines. 

• Nearly 60% smoke or use tobacco. 

• They are nearly six times more likely to report having had a stroke and three times more likely to report having diabetes compared to their non-disabled peers. 

These facts make it clear that Kansans with disabilities need opportunities and support to improve their health. The Kansas DHP also addresses two related problems: 

• Kansans with disabilities have significant health disparities (poorer health) than their non-disabled peers. 

• Many public health programs are not accessible or do not include people with disabilities.  

This website was supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number DD000006 from CDC, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Health Branch. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC, NCBDDD, Disability and Health Branch.