Virginia Health Promotion for People with Disabilities at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University

Prevention of Secondary Conditions

People living with disabilities are often more likely to acquire secondary conditions. This risk can be prevented or minimized by adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes balanced nutrition, physical activity, maintaining proper body weight, and regular health checkups.

Health promotion activities that support good health behavior can help prevent secondary conditions. In Healthy People With Disabilities 2010, health promotion is defined as consisting of 4 parts: (1) the promotion of healthy lifestyles and a healthy environment, (2) the prevention of health complications (medical secondary conditions) and further disabling conditions, (3) the preparation of the person with a disability to understand and monitor his or her own health and health care needs, and (4) the promotion of opportunities for participation in commonly held life activities.

Many organizations sponsor accessible social, recreational and physical activities. The Central Virginia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has sponsored an annual wellness fair after the MS Walk. Special Olympics Virginia is open to anyone with an intellectual disability that would like to participate in their events. Many of the organizations on our Links page offer a variety of activities.

Access to quality health care assists in preventing secondary conditions. If a person with a disability maintains their health by controlling their weight, keeping regular doctor and dental appointments, and having yearly preventative health screenings, they can live healthy lives just as a person without a disability. Problems arise when there are a variety of barriers that do not allow them to maintain their health. Many people with disabilities fall into the low income or poverty level; are uninsured or underinsured for medical coverage, and do not have dental insurance. If a person with a disability is fortunate enough to have medical insurance, they often have trouble finding a health care facility that is fully accessible. Many health care providers do not have equipment to accommodate a person with a disability, such as someone who uses a wheelchair. Not having reliable and accessible transportation is another problem that hinders people with disabilities from receiving quality health care.

More information can be found on the Disability Resources and Links pages.