CDC Programs

CDC, NCBDDD (October 2012-September 2017)
Coordinating Center for Research and Training to Promote the Health of People with Developmental and Other Disabilities

AAHD and our partners at University of South Carolina (USC) and State University of New York Update Medical University (SUNY-UMC) have been awarded a cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.  The overall aim of this cooperative agreement is to expand the capacity of NCBDDD to conduct research, training, and disseminate evidence based practice related to birth defects, developmental and other disabilities through the establishment of a Disability Research and Dissemination Center (DRDC).

The specific aims of the cooperative agreement are to: 1) Establish a national DRC that builds on the foundation of two national universities (University of South Carolina) and State University of New York Upstate Medical University (SUNY-UMC) and a national dissemination and policy organization (AAHD); 2) Advance evidenced based practice and policies that promote the health and well being of people with disabilities across the lifespan to public health practitioners, advocacy groups and other stakeholders;. 3) Conduct research related to NCBDDD priorities using a wide network of University partners that include medical, social science, basic science and public health approaches; 4) Train health and public health professionals and paraprofessionals about issues related to disabilities in classrooms, conference and through technology strategies; 5) Communicate and disseminate information with and for stakeholders and other audiences using state of the art approaches;  6) Evaluate and report on processes of NCBDDD and DRDC assure research and product integrity.

These objectives will be achieved through the collaboration of three primary partners/sites and national organizations that have a broad reach.  This proposal is designed to identify and fund the best research in this field, foster training of public health and other professionals, and to use the most progressive mechanism to disseminate knowledge about evidenced-based practices. The University of South Carolina School of Medicine will be the administrative home of the DRDC.

CDC Disability and Health Team

The Disability and Health Team, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dh, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which is located within the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). The goal of the Disability and Health Team is to promote the health and well-being of the estimated 54 million people with disabilities living within our country.

The Disability and Health Team at the CDC is involved in various initiatives, including the following major activities which are described on their website:

  • Assessing and monitoring disability prevalence;
  • Assessing the health status and quality of life for people with disabilities;
  • Describing risk factors and costs associated with secondary conditions and poor health;
  • Developing health promotion interventions to reduce secondary conditions and evaluate intervention effectiveness and costs;
  • Offering training to health professionals interested in the field of disability and public health;
  • Supporting conferences to facilitate and stimulate dialogue; disseminate and exchange information; establish research and policy priorities; and outline and undertake next steps.

Please visit the Disability and Health Team website to learn more about their programs and activities at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dh and at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/factsheets/disability_health.pdf. To learn more about the CDC and their activities, please visit their website at www.cdc.gov.

Health & Wellness Interventions

Check out the Health Promotion Curriculum page for updates.