The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD), A Review

The AAHD is an organization that contributes to national, state, and local efforts to prevent additional health complications in people with disabilities. They help to identify effective intervention strategies with the goal of reducing the incidence of secondary conditions and health disparities between people with disabilities and the population in general. The AAHD achieves its mission through means such as research, education, and advocacy.

The organization is fully-dedicated to the advancement of theory, knowledge, and practice in relation to the prevention of secondary disabling conditions and the promotion of health and wellness for people with disabilities. As a person with various forms of disabilities, I find both the mission and the vision of the AAHD to be honorable and necessary. For example, the loss of my teeth and subsequent pursuit of dentures by age forty-five is something that has been caused, in part, by the medications I take to control the seizures related to epilepsy, a form of disability. The medications cause chronic dry mouth. I more than just suspect the diabetes type II I experience is a secondary form of health condition. There are many people with disabilities who experience similar health circumstances in America.

The methods the AAHD employs include not only professional and public education; but advocacy efforts, as well as expansion of public awareness on issues related to the prevention of impairments and disabilities. The organization is looking towards the future with well-though out plans which include:

  • Establish a national clearinghouse for ideas, information and resources
  • Create an intramural and extramural program of research and development
  • Develop a newsletter for consumers and professionals
  • Maintain a program of workshops and conferences

The workshops and conferences the AAHD is planning are ones intended to disseminate new and emerging information concerning the prevention of additional health complications, to include health promotion and wellness initiatives for people with disabilities. The organization is reaching to accomplish their goals through a process of continuous information gathering and dissemination and a commitment to better health services and improved quality of life for people with disabilities. They endeavor their members at federal, state, and community levels.

The American Association on Health and Disability was founded in response to a new national health and disability policy that began to emerge during the 1980's. During this time period, major developments presented a significant impact, creating a national disability agenda. The founding of the AAHD has continued to enhance the health and wellness since that time.

One of the developments that has enhanced the actions of the AAHD was the Americans with Disabilities Act legislation, something which has assisted in closing the gap where the guarantees of civil rights in relation to people with disabilities is concerned. Another development was the creation of the National Program for the Prevention of Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Yet another development affecting the actions of the AAHD has been the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion through the Department of Health and Human Services, one that has implemented a national plan for primary prevention set forth in Healthy People 2000. The release of a report entitled, 'Disability in America,' in the year 1991 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has also had an effect on the actions of the American Association on Health and Disability.

The developments mentioned represented an increase in the amount of interest related to the prevention of additional health complications in people with disabilities in America. They demonstrated an interest in promotion of health and wellness for people with disabilities on the parts of a number of groups which represent Americans, both with and without forms of disabilities. The interests expressed included an expansion of the National Program for the Prevention of Disabilities, something which reinforced the viability of, as well as the need for, the American Association on Health and Disability.

The year 2000 found the AAHD modifying its mission in order to focus on the prevention of additional health complications and secondary conditions in people with disabilities. Their mission was also modified to support the promotion of health and wellness programs that assist people with disabilities to both attain and maintain a positive health status. The organization continues their mission to support primary means of preventions and strategies which further assure good health status in people with disabilities.

The AAHD is an exceptional organization; to date there is not one other organization in America that is specifically dedicated to attainment of the goals they have. The AAHD continues to fill a crucial need to support national, state, and community initiatives related to health issues in people with disabilities while promoting health and wellness in this population. The sheer number of organizations the American Association on Health and Disability collaborates with is stunning.

The AAHD collaborates with a great number of non-profit organizations, universities, state health departments, and private corporations. What follows are examples of the organizations the AAHD collaborates with:

The organizations mentioned are only a portion of the many organizations the AAHD collaborates with to achieve their mission and vision.

American Association on Health and Disability