Level 1: Mentoring State with Funding from 2002-2007
Lead Agency
North Carolina Office on Disability and Health
NCDHHS
1928 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1928
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncodh
Cathy Kluttz, RN, MA, Principal Investigator
Specialized Services Unit Manager
Division of Public Health, NCDHHS
Children and Youth Branch/WCHS
Phone: (919) 715-3904 Fax: (919) 733-2997
Anna Johnston, Program Director
Division of Public Health, NCDHHS
Children and Youth Branch/WCHS
Phone: (919) 715-2505 Fax: (919) 733-2997
anna.johnston@ncmail.net
Karen Luken, MSRA, Principal Investigator and Project Director
FPG Child Development Institute
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8185
Phone: (919) 966-0881 Fax: (919) 966-0862
kluken@email.unc.edu
Collaborating Agencies
Internal to NCDHHS and UNC-CH
- Cancer Prevention and Control Branch, Division of Public Health, DHHS
- FPG Child Development Institute, UNC at Chapel Hill
- Immunization Branch, Division of Public Health, DHHS
- NC Assistive Technology Program, DHSS
- NC Dept of Public Instruction
- NC Council on Developmental Disabilities, DHHS
- NC State Center for Health Statistics, DHHS
- Office on Minority Health and Health Disparities, DHHS
- Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch, Division of Public Health, DHHS
- Radiation Protection Section, Division of Environmental Health, DHHS
- Women and Childrens Health Section, Division of Public Health, DHHS
- UNC-CH Center for Development and Learning
- UNC-CH Injury Prevention Research Center
- UNC-CH School of Public Health
External
- Association of Self Advocates NC
- Duke University Medical Center
- Easter Seals UCP of NC
- Medical Review of NC, Inc
- Multiple Sclerosis Society, North Carolina chapters
- NC ADA Network
- NC Association of Rehabilitation Facilities
- NC Centers for Independent Living
- NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- NC Governor’s Crime Commission and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs
- National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
- Partnerships in Assistive Technology
- Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, North Carolina Triangle Affiliate
- The Arc of NC and local affiliates
Project Goal
The NC Office on Disability and Health (NCODH) works to promote the health and wellness of persons with disabilities in North Carolina through an integrated program of policy, practice and research. NCODH will:
- Increase the states capacity to conduct epidemiological planning that is inclusive of persons with disabilities
- Increase the number of organizations, agencies and communities that are developing the capacity to include persons with disabilities and
- Increase the focus on health promotion in the disability community
Major Program Activities
- Support state capacity to conduct epidemiological planning, with a primary focus on theBehavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
- Support state capacity to administer health component of the Core Indicators Project to expand data on individuals with developmental disabilities
- Collaboration with Medical Review of NC and State Center on Health Statistics to investigate issues related to the stage of diagnosis and treatment for breast and colon cancer cases diagnosed in 1998-1999 among North Carolinians enrolled in Medicare due to a disability.
- NCODH is continuing to provide train-the-trainer workshops for implementation ofWomen Be Healthy: an educational intervention for women with intellectual disabilities with a primary emphasis on reproductive health and breast/cervical cancer screenings. NCODH also provides on-going technical assistance and the educational kit for class instruction.
- NCODH provides limited financial support and staff assistance to state-wide and community- based agencies organizing Community Health Fairs and Educational Conferences to address health and wellness for persons with disabilities. Activities include an array of health promotion sessions and health screenings. Partners include the Assistive Technology EXPO, MS Society, local Arc affiliates, Association of Self Advocates of North Carolina, and local ADA network groups.
- NCODH is supporting the implementation Living Well with a Disability in partnership with a Center for Independent Living.
- NCODH is expanding the implementation of its worksite health program, Work Healthy, Live Healthy, designed to increase healthy choices and supports available to individuals with significant disabilities who are receiving services at community rehabilitation programs.
- NCODH will continue to implement its Accessible Community Environments Modelin which it conducts on site training and accessibility surveys, assists the lead agency with the development of a plan of action, and provides on-going technical assistance and mentoring to make accessibility improvements. NCODH has implemented this model in fitness facilities, healthcare settings, and domestic violence/sexual assault agencies.
Evaluation and Research
NCODH will engage in a number of evaluation activities, including:
- Community interventions to improve the accessibility of community environments (fitness facilities, mammography sites, medical clinics, and domestic violence and sexual assault services);
- Compilation of disability and cancer registry data by Medical Review of NC
- Participation in the CDC evaluation of health promotion communication materials and
- Work site health promotion activities.
Materials and Publications
NCODH has developed a plethora of publications related to health and disability. Each of these publications is available free of charge to North Carolina residents and for a nominal fee for out-of-state residents (for multiple copies). Many publications can be downloaded in html or PDFformats. If you are interested in downloading or obtaining a hardcopy, go to the publications page at: http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncodh. Whenever possible, NCODH will make information available in alternate formats, such as large print, Braille, audio, diskette, upon request. Please note that this may not be possible for all publications.
NCODH has translated a number of publications into Spanish, including Orchid magazine, Growing Up with Spina Bifida, Depression and Disability, and Recreation: a great way to be active.
The publication, A Providers Guide for the Care of Women with Physical Disabilities and Chronic Health Conditions has been updated.
NCODH will continue to disseminate the publication developed with the NC Dept of Public Instruction, Quality, Inclusive Physical Education.
Additional publications include:
Removing Barriers: Planning Meetings that are Accessible to all Participants
Removing Barriers to Health Care: A Guide for Health Professionals
Removing Barriers: Tips and Strategies to Promote Accessible Communication
Removing Barriers to Health Clubs and Fitness Facilities: A Guide for Accommodating All Members, Including People with Disabilities and Older Adults
North Carolina Recreation Resource Guide, newly revised
North Carolina Plan for Promoting the Health of People with Disabilities 2003-2008
Health Promotion Resource Guide
Partners in Health Care: People with Disabilities & Their Health Care Providers
Technical Assistance
- Accessible community environments
- Womens health: reproductive health, domestic violence/sexual assault services, breast healthcare
- BRFSS and Core Indicators Project
- Health Promotion: physical activity and recreation, work site health, health and wellness interventions