On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) officially recognized people with disabilities as a population with health disparities, which is a significant step forward in acknowledging the health inequalities that our community has faced. The decision to recognize and address these disparities is crucial to creating more equitable and inclusive research, outreach, and healthcare system for all. This move is a great achievement for those advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.
As Peter Sleasman, Disability Rights Florida's Executive Director, shares, "We cannot emphasize the importance of this decision enough. Disability impacts 1 in 4 Americans, and we must continue to investigate the myriad of societal, environmental, and institutional barriers against the disability community to access adequate, accessible, and equitable research. We applaud the National Institutes on Health, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and all other collaborators in making this important step happen."