Available online 29 March 2023, 101468

Author links open overlay panel, Abstract

This commentary discusses the implications of the report and recommendations of the Working Group on Diversity’s Subgroup on Individuals with Disabilities, recently endorsed by the full Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We suggest that one of these recommendations, the formal designation of people with disabilities as a US health disparity population, can be enacted immediately, which would spur new federal investment in disability-based disparities research.

Section snippetsFunding disclosure

no extramural funds were used to prepare this commentary

Potential conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest in preparing this report

A brief review of the research literature on disability disparities in health

People with disabilities in the US have significantly higher rates of all-cause mortality than people without disabilities.18,19 They also report poorer health status20, 21, 22 and higher rates of chronic pain23,24 and emotional distress.25,26 Overall, Americans with disabilities consume much more health services than those without disabilities.27 These health and healthcare disparities cannot be attributed solely to diagnosed health conditions or disabilities, but are also a function of their

Overlap and intersectionality among people with disabilities and other US health disparity populations

Most Americans with disabilities are already members of one or more currently designated US health disparity populations. An analysis of pre-pandemic (2019) data from the Adult National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)†

The politics of disability, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility

On the day of his Inauguration (January 20, 2021), President Biden issued support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/" title="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/">Executive Order (EO) 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government. This EO required all federal agencies

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