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DHDD Newsletter – September 2024
A Note from the DHDD Director
Dear DHDD Partners,
This September brought us the exhilaration of the 2024 Paralympic Games, and I was incredibly moved by the dedication of the athletes. As the largest global sporting event for people with disabilities, the Paralympics have demonstrated the courage and determination of world-class athletes since 1960. I was inspired not only by the achievements of individual athletes like Nick Mayhugh and Hunter Woodhall, but also by the influence that this event continues to have as an agent for change to break down barriers for people with disabilities.
Our division’s vision is that people with disabilities and developmental concerns achieve their optimal health and well-being, and the Paralympics reflects this vision in action. At DHDD, we remain committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in everything we do. In recognition of National Preparedness Month, our division has launched the Emergency Preparedness and Disability Inclusion web portal, which features accessible resources that help people with disabilities prepare for emergencies. Based on input from partners and the disability community, the website includes a collection of materials that can be searched according to audience needs. For more information and to access these resources, please check out the “In the Spotlight” section of this newsletter.
This new resource is but one example of inclusive activities across DHDD to serve the disability community and lead change. Just as the Paralympics is realized through collaboration across multiple sectors to enable the participation of its athletes, our partnership makes a real difference. It is by working together that we influence policies, systems, and environments that support people with disabilities in achieving their optimal health and well-being. I am immensely grateful for our ongoing collaboration and am excited about where our collective vision will take us – until the next Paralympic Games in 2028 and beyond.
With gratitude,
Karyl
Karyl Rattay, MD, MS, FAAP
DHDD Director
In the Spotlight
CDC Launches Accessible Resources on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
CDC has launched a collection of accessible resources as part of a new web portal dedicated to emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. Resources include videos with translation in American Sign Language, audio clips, Easy Read summaries, infographics, activity sheets, and more. The goal of these materials is to strengthen accessibility of the content presented in the web portal.
CDC developed these resources in collaboration with partners and members of the disability community. This information can help people with disabilities consider steps they can take to plan ahead for emergencies and know what to do if an emergency happens in their communities. The web portal also includes an extensive catalog of resources that is filterable by topic area and audience, including disability organizations, first responders, and healthcare providers and clinicians.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the disproportionate impact that public health emergencies can have on people with disabilities and the importance of including disability across all emergency preparedness planning activities. Addressing gaps in information on this topic is a critical step toward improving disability inclusion for communities.
Tools and Resources
CDC’s Milestone Tracker app adds new photos and videos in Spanish!
CDC’s free Milestone Tracker app is now updated with Spanish photos and videos of Indicadores en Acción (Milestones in Action).
Autism Identification and Collaborative Care – AAP PediaLink Training
This course is designed to increase knowledge among pediatric clinicians on evidence-based practices for screening, evaluation, referral, and management of children and youth with autism and their families. The course was developed as part of CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” cooperative agreement with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Around CDC
CDC Raises Awareness About Disability Inclusion and Accessibility for National Preparedness Month
Disability inclusion and accessibility is the theme for CDC’s 2024 National Preparedness Month commemoration. CDC is raising awareness about preparing the whole community by integrating disability inclusion and accessibility in all phases of emergency preparedness and response. To learn more about CDC’s National Preparedness Month 2024 objectives, please visit CDC’s National Preparedness Month 2024 website.
Save the Date and Register: Health Equity in Emergency Preparedness and Response
When preparing and responding to emergencies, it is crucial to embed health equity from the start to ensure that all people have equal access to life-saving information, services, and programs. Emergencies, such as a natural disaster or a pandemic, can have devastating impacts on whole communities. People in racial and ethnic minority communities, people with disabilities, people living in geographically isolated areas, and other groups often face systemic barriers and health disparities that are exacerbated during an emergency.
Join CDC’s Office of Health Equity (OHE) and our partners to learn about the importance of health equity in emergency response and preparedness. OHE and CDC’s Office of Readiness and Response will present on its emergency response work, including the establishment of the Chief Health Equity Officer (CHEO) unit in CDC emergency responses. Additional presenters include subject matter experts from Choose Healthy Life, Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, and National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS).
Date: October 23, 2024
Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm Eastern Time
Please register in advance to attend this online event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar.
Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations
This live streamed Zoom event will be presented with Web CART. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact OHE@cdc.gov within 10 business days of the event to ensure timely interpreting and accessibility services are provided.
Questions? Email OHE@cdc.gov
Tips for Healthy Communication Between Parents and Teens
As teenagers head back to school, it’s important to recognize that having healthy communication with them has a major impact on their health and well-being. There are actions you can take to encourage communication so your teen feels free to express themself to you.
Partner News and Announcements
Helping Children with ADHD Succeed in School
The school year is underway, and parents play an important part in helping children with ADHD succeed in school. The National Resource Center on ADHD – a program of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) – has developed a resource to help students get off to a successful start. This ADHD and School toolkit is for parents of children with ADHD and includes strategies to help with school success.
Launch of New NCHPAD Website
The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) is thrilled to announce the launch of a new website – a direct result of NCHPAD’s quarter century of work! Access the latest NCHPAD news and inclusive resources, meet the NCHPAD team (along with partners spanning the country) and discover the work that has empowered individuals, impacted organizations, and transformed communities.
NCHPAD Evaluation of Weight Loss Program for People with Disabilities
NCHPAD recently published an evaluation of an evidence-based weight loss program for people with physical disabilities. Findings showed significant weight loss and good usability and feasibility in the target population. The framework can be used to create inclusive health promotion programs.
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DHDD’S mission is to lead inclusive programs to optimize the health and development of children and adults with, or at risk for, disabilities.
