New York State Department of Health Recognizes International Day of Persons With Disabilities

Commissioner Dr. James McDonald Speaks at New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation Leadership Conference

Department Promotes Rights and Well-Being of Persons with Disabilities

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 30, 2023) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed December 3, and promotes full and meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities in every aspect of daily living. Today, State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald spoke to the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation at the 2023 Leadership Conference in Saratoga Springs about ways to uplift individuals with disabilities, as well as their families and organizations that support them.

“International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a day to remember the importance of advocating for the rights of people with disabilities and to acknowledge the barriers they experience every day,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “We will continue to support access to quality health care, commit to ensuring that public places, programming, and services are fully accessible and inclusive for everyone, and work on eliminating the health disparities.”

Proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992, the annual observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 aims to elevate the understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of individuals with disabilities.

More than 1 in 4, or 27 percent, of New York State adults have one or more disabilities. Disabilities are experienced in many forms, including those that impact vision, hearing, movement, mental health, learning, and memory, among others. Individuals with disabilities experience significant health disparities as evidenced by data revealing higher rates of unmet health care needs due to accessibility issues.

Notably, disability prevalence is higher among older, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Black adults. Adults living with a disability are less likely to graduate from high school, less likely to be part of the labor force, and more likely to report an annual income of less than $15,000 than adults not living with a disability. They are also more likely to miss a health care visit due to cost and to report food insecurity within the last 12 months than adults without a disability. Additionally, adults living with a disability also experience higher rates of chronic disease including diabetes and cardiovascular disease and are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and experience frequent mental distress than adults without a disability.

The Department recently launched a new training module, “Disability Etiquette,” which educates New Yorkers on how to increase disability awareness, accessibility, and inclusion in public health programming. The comprehensive training provides information, tools, and strategies that can be used by anyone to ensure that facilities, programs, environments, policies, and procedures are accessible and inclusive for everyone.

The Department remains committed to promoting the rights of people with disabilities, as well as focusing on increasing access to accessible and inclusive health care.

For more information about disability, and promoting health and wellness among people with disabilities, contact the New York State Department of Health, Disability and Health Program at (518) 408-5142, send an email to DHP@health.ny.gov, or visit: www.health.ny.gov/community/disability/

The Disability Status Report can be found here.

The Disability and Social Determinants of Health Information of Action Report can be found here.

The Disability and Health Behaviors Information for Action Report can be found here.