Accessibility and Disability Equity Library

People with disabilities belong everywhere and deserve equitable access to employment, education, housing, healthcare, and recreation. They have made immense contributions to all aspects of life and culture in the United States, despite being historically excluded from many of the fields they impact. Today, 26% of adults in the U.S. (61 million people) live with a disability. The disabled community has made great strides in advancing accessibility and equity, but disabled people still disproportionately face negative health and mental health outcomes. Long histories of misunderstanding, abuse, lack of care, stigmatization, discrimination, and unequal rights have created deep inequities for people with disabilities. Disabled people are more likely to live in poverty, experience trauma, face barriers to care, and struggle with suicidal ideation than their able-bodied peers.

Disabled people who are living in poverty, located in rural communities, LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and/or of color are most impacted, with risk factors including:

Higher prevalence of disabilities in communities of color (35% of Black people aged 44-65 and half of Black people over 65 have a documented disability) and in the LGBTQ+ community (more than one third of LGBTQ+ adults and 39% of transgender people identify as having a disability)
Worse health outcomes for disabled people of color: 55.2% of Hispanic and 46.6% of African American individuals with disabilities report fair or poor health, compared with 36.9 percent of white disabled individuals
Lower socioeconomic statuses for disabled people of color and LGBTQ+ people
Fewer education and employment opportunities for disabled people of color and LGBTQ+ people, as well as greater difficulty securing appropriate accommodations and higher risks of discrimination in school and work settings
Law enforcement-related violence and deaths of disabled people of color, especially Black disabled people
Significant gaps in services, accessibility options, and accommodations for disabled people living in rural areas, many tribal communities, and locations with high rates of poverty

A New Focus on Community Commons

Health Equity Libraries on Community Commons build capacity for changemakers to advance equity for a specific priority population by sharing relevant resources. Priority populations are exploration avenues on Community Commons that represent diverse groups, communities, demographics, identities, statuses, and people with lived experiences. They connect users directly with populations of interest, lift up important underserved groups, and help root our work in equity and justice.

Importantly, we acknowledge that people are not defined solely by the population groups to which they belong—many factors contribute to what makes people who they are, and most people belong to more than one priority population group. These libraries are designed to break down silos and support changemakers working to advance equitable well-being by making people-centered content more discoverable on Community Commons.

Resources curated for Health Equity Libraries:

Share practical, actionable strategies to guide on-the-ground work
Provide access to data and scientific articles that build the case for equity and its relation to well-being
Lift up stories and lived experience from people in priority populations

The Accessibility and Disability Equity Library highlights 300+ newly-curated resources and stories to advance equitable health outcomes for people with disabilities.

As we have worked to expand and center disability and accessibility content on Community Commons, some key themes have emerged:

Accessibility as central to equity, belonging, and well-being
Shifting dialogue from disabilities as limitations to disabilities as complex, highly personal experiences often tied to identity and disability culture
Sourcing and leveraging accurate data on disabilities and disabled people
Centering intersectional perspectives, especially LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices
Disproportionate impacts of disabled people with multiple marginalizations, including histories of trauma
COVID-19 as a magnifier, emphasizing existing strengths and disparities

Copyright: 2022
Published Date: 09/01/2022

Resources

Topic - Assessment Audio Blog Book CC Original Case study Data bank/repository Data/mapping tool Fact sheet Guide/handbook Journal article Map Topic - People Plan Podcast Policy brief Topic - Possibilities Topic - Quality of Life Report Toolkit/toolbox Video Webinar Website/webpage Workshop/training Written

Topic -

Card image cap

Walkability

Topic

Assessment

Screen capture of Health People 2030: Mental Health and Mental Disorders

Healthy People 2030: Mental Health and Mental Disorders

Resource - Assessment

PDF Cover: Core Competencies for Trauma-Informed Staff

Core Competencies for Trauma-Informed Staff

Resource - Assessment

Screen capture of Healthy People 2030: People With Disabilities webpage

Healthy People 2030: People With Disabilities

Resource - Assessment

Screen capture of Take The ACE Quiz — And Learn What It Does And Doesn't Mean

Take the ACE Quiz — And Learn What It Does and Doesn’t Mean

Resource - Assessment

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Audio

On Being Podcast Page

How Trauma Lodges in the Body

Story - Audio

Screen capture of Disability Justice Is LGBT Justice: A Conversation with Movement Leaders article

Disability Justice Is LGBT Justice: A Conversation With Movement Leaders

Story - Audio

Screen capture of How Does Inaccessibility Impact Your Health webpage

018: “How Does Inaccessibility Impact Your Health?”

Story - Audio

On Being Podcast Page

How Trauma and Resilience Cross Generations

Story - Audio

Blog

Screen capture of top of web article: Why Intervention is Necessary to Prevent Eating Disorder Deaths

Why Intervention Is Necessary to Prevent Eating Disorder Deaths

Resource - Blog

Policing Is Killing Black Disabled People. Centering Intersectionality Is Critical to Reducing Harm.

Resource - Blog

Screen capture of article cover photo: Indigenous Knowledge and Practices May Reduce Chronic Diseases in Native American Communities

Indigenous Knowledge and Practices May Reduce Chronic Diseases in Native American Communities

Resource - Blog

Screen capture of Covid-19 Continues to Highlight Gaps in Accessibility for People With Disabilities articles

COVID-19 Continues to Highlight Gaps in Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Resource - Blog

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Book

PDF Cover: A Treatment Improvement Protocol: Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services

A Treatment Improvement Protocol: Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services

Resource - Book

The Right to Community Integration for People with Disabilities Under United States and International Law

Resource - Book

CC Original

Community Commons interns at the zoo

To Improve Student Health and Well-Being Focus on Mental Health

Story - Original

Photo of person in a powerchair looking at a set of stairs with no ramp

Disability-Related Stress and Inaccessibility as Trauma

Story - Original

Photo of soldiers standing near an aircraft at sunset

Improving Veterans’ Access to Mental Health Treatment

Story - Original

Published on 06/07/2017

Picture of a Black mother playing with her child

Bearing the Burden: How racism-related stress hurts America’s black mothers and babies

Story - Original

Published on 10/02/2018

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Case study

PDF Cover: Trauma-Informed Community Building: The Evolution of a Community Engagement Model in a Trauma Impacted Neighborhood

Trauma-Informed Community Building: The Evolution of a Community Engagement Model in a Trauma Impacted Neighborhood

Resource - Case Study

PDF Cover: Trauma-Informed Caring for Native American Patients and Communities Prioritizes Healing, Not Management

Trauma-Informed Caring for Native American Patients and Communities Prioritizes Healing, Not Management

Resource - Case Study

Screen capture of top of article: Accessibility of Covid-19 Information-Sharing and Public Communications for People with Disabilities

Accessibility of COVID-19 Information-Sharing and Public Communications for People with Disabilities

Resource - Case Study

Screen capture of article photo: Don't Start and End with ACEs: How Protective Factors Explain Youth Health

Don’t Start and End with ACEs: How Protective Factors Explain Youth Health

Resource - Case Study

Data bank/repository

Screen capture of website: Disability Healthcare Resources

Disability Healthcare Resources

Resource - Data Bank/repository

Screen capture of BRFSS image: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ACE Data

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ACE Data

Resource - Data Bank/repository

Bold letters

Priority Populations Channel

Resource - Data Bank/repository

Thriving Campuses Toolkit: Mental and Emotional Well-Being Resources page

Thriving Campuses Toolkit: Mental and Emotional Well-Being Resources

Resource - Data Bank/repository

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Data/mapping tool

Screen capture of Interactive Digital Primer: Adverse Childhood Experiences Across California

Interactive Digital Primer: Adverse Childhood Experiences Across California

Tool - Data/mapping Tool

Screen grab of Explore Adverse Childhood Experiences in Oklahoma

Adverse Childhood Experiences in United States

Tool - Data/mapping Tool

Fact sheet

Screen capture of Brain Health and Healthy Aging

Brain Health and Healthy Aging

Resource - Fact Sheet

Know Your Rights: Voting Rights

Resource - Fact Sheet

PDF Cover: Prenatal Laws: Down Syndrome Information Acts

Prenatal Laws: Down Syndrome Information Acts

Resource - Fact Sheet

Screen capture of website landing page: Eating Disorder Statistics

Eating Disorder Statistics

Resource - Fact Sheet

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Guide/handbook

Screen shot of photo in handbook: Neurodiversity and New Accessibility Standards

Neurodiversity and New Accessibility Standards

Resource - Guide/handbook

PDF Cover: Accessible Health Care

Accessible Health Care

Resource - Guide/handbook

Screen capture of article photo: PACEs Connection Resource Center

PACEs Connection Resource Center

Resource - Guide/handbook

PDF Cover Page: Autism and Safety Toolkit

Autism and Safety Toolkit

Resource - Guide/handbook

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Journal article

PDF Cover Page: Autistic Self-Advocacy and the Neurodiversity Movement: Implications for Autism Early Intervention Research and Practice

Autistic Self-Advocacy and the Neurodiversity Movement: Implications for Autism Early Intervention Research and Practice

Resource - Journal Article

PDF Cover: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Racial Trauma

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Racial Trauma

Resource - Journal Article

PDF Cover: Living With a Concealable Stigmatized Identity: The Impact of Anticipated Stigma, Centrality, Salience, and Cultural Stigma on Psychological Distress and Health

Living With a Concealable Stigmatized Identity: The Impact of Anticipated Stigma, Centrality, Salience, and Cultural Stigma on Psychological Distress and Health

Resource - Journal Article

PDF Cover page: Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults

Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults

Resource - Journal Article

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Map

Screen capture of article cover photo: Transportation Access for Everyone Storymap

Transportation Access For Everyone Storymap

Resource - Map

Topic - People

Collage of people with disabilities, including people with mobility, hearing, visual, developmental, psychological, and invisible disabilities

People with Disabilities

Topic - People

Photo of young child with long curly dark hair playing with a pop fidget toy

Autism

Topic - People

Photo of Black family with one parent wearing an army uniform

Veterans

Topic - People

Plan

Title page of COPD National Action Plan

COPD National Action Plan

Resource - Plan

Podcast

Screen capture of Included: The Disability Equity Podcast webpage

Included: The Disability Equity Podcast

Resource - Podcast

Policy brief

Graphic displaying title of policy 'Implement Universal Family Care'

Implement Universal Family Care

Resource - Policy Brief

Published on 04/16/2021

High-Quality Accessible Pre-K Policy

High-Quality Accessible Pre-K Policy Breakdown

Resource - Policy Brief

Graphic displaying title of policy 'Increase Geographic Proximity and Accessibility of Jobs'

Increase Geographic Proximity and Accessibility of Jobs

Resource - Policy Brief

Published on 04/16/2021

PDF Cover: Fact Sheet: Disability Discrimination

Fact Sheet: Disability Discrimination

Resource - Policy Brief

Topic - Possibilities

Card image cap

Neurodiversity

Topic - Possibilities

Card image cap

Trauma-Informed Practice

Topic - Possibilities

Photo of older adult speaking with nurse

Cultural Humility and Competence

Topic - Possibilities

Card image cap

Supportive Housing

Topic - Possibilities

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Topic - Quality of Life

Photo of child looking at the camera. Orange banner reads

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Topic - Quality Of Life

Photo of a person receiving hemodialysis treatment. An orange banner spanning the top of the image reads

Kidney Diseases

Topic - Quality Of Life

Photo of two medical professionals examining images from a brain scan. An orange banner spanning the top of the image reads

Brain Health

Topic - Quality Of Life

Silhouette of a head with colorful strips of paper around it. An orange banner spanning the top of the image reads

Mental and Behavioral Health

Topic - Quality Of Life

See More

Report

Screen shot of article photo: Invisible Wounds: Gun Violence and Community Trauma among Black Americans

Invisible Wounds: Gun Violence and Community Trauma Among Black Americans

Resource - Report

PDF Cover: LGBT People with Disabilities

LGBT People With Disabilities

Resource - Report

Cover page of Cops and No Counselors: How the Lack of School Mental Health Staff Is Harming Students

Cops and No Counselors: How the Lack of School Mental Health Staff Is Harming Students

Resource - Report

PDF Cover: Mental Health and Communities of Color

Mental Health and Communities of Color

Resource - Report

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Toolkit/toolbox

Screen capture of article photo: Know Your Rights Guide to Surviving Covid-19 Triage Protocols

Know Your Rights Guide to Surviving COVID-19 Triage Protocols

Tool - Toolkit/toolbox

Screen capture of article photo cover: Covid-19 Response: Digital Accessibility and Other Best Practices for Remote Work

COVID-19 Response: Digital Accessibility and Other Best Practices for Remote Work

Tool - Toolkit/toolbox

Cover page of Your Conversation Starter Kit: For Families and Loved Ones of People With Alzheimer's Disease or Other Forms of Dementia

Your Conversation Starter Kit: For Families and Loved Ones of People With Alzheimer's Disease or Other Forms of Dementia

Tool - Toolkit/toolbox

Screen capture of toolkit image: School Board Disability Advocacy Toolkit

School Board Disability Advocacy Toolkit

Tool - Toolkit/toolbox

See More

Video

Screen capture of article cover photo: People of Color Have Been Missing in the Disability Rights Movement – Looking Through History May Help Explain Why

People of Color Have Been Missing in the Disability Rights Movement – Looking Through History May Help Explain Why

Story - Video

Card image cap

Keep Talking: Black Minds Matter – Psychological Costs of Racial Injustice

Story - Video

Screen capture of YouTube cover: Navigating Health Care with a Disability: Our Stories, a Focus on People with Disabilities

Navigating Health Care with a Disability: Our Stories, a Focus on People with Disabilities

Story - Video

Screen capture of YouTube cover: Resisting Abelism: Disabled People and Human Gene Editing

Resisting Abelism: Disabled People and Human Gene Editing

Story - Video

Webinar

Screen grab of Our Mental Wellness as We Emerge from COVID-19

Our Mental Wellness as We Emerge from COVID-19

Resource - Webinar

Screen shot of webinar cover: Disability Justice & Gene Editing: Exploring Multiple Perspectives

Disability Justice and Gene Editing: Exploring Multiple Perspectives

Resource - Webinar

Screen grab of Systems for Action Webinar

Systems for Action Webinar: Financing Integrated Health and Social Services for Populations with Mental Illness

Resource - Webinar

Screen Capture of Webinar Cover Page: Supporting Student Success through School Health Policy

Supporting Student Success through School Health Policy

Resource - Webinar

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Website/webpage

Screen capture of Brain Basics: Know Your Brain

Brain Basics: Know Your Brain

Resource - Website/webpage

Shutterstock image: LGBTQI Trauma and Internalized Shame

LGBTQI Trauma and Internalized Shame

Resource - Website/webpage

Screenshot of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention: Interventions Engaging Community Health Workers

Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention: Interventions Engaging Community Health Workers

Resource - Website/webpage

Screen shot of cover photo: Thriving Together: Basic Needs for Health and Safety - Freedom from Trauma, Violence, and Addiction

Thriving Together: Basic Needs for Health and Safety - Freedom from Trauma, Violence, and Addiction

Resource - Website/webpage

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Workshop/training

Screen capture of YouTube video screen: How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime

How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime

Resource - Workshop/training

Shutterstock image: Practical Recommendations for Enhancing the Care of Patients with Disability

Practical Recommendations for Enhancing the Care of Patients with Disability

Tool - Workshop/training

Written

Screen capture of article photo: Why is it So Hard to Find a Therapist? These Barriers Stop Washingtonians From Getting Help

Why Is It So Hard To Find a Therapist? These Barriers Stop Washingtonians From Getting Help

Story - Written

Screen capture of 3 Black Female ER Doctors Launch Free Telehealth Service For Marginalized Communities To Deal With COVID-19

3 Black Female ER Doctors Launch Free Telehealth Service For Marginalized Communities To Deal With COVID-19

Story - Written

Screen capture of What Would a Truly Disabled-Accessible City Look Like? article

What Would a Truly Disabled-Accessible City Look Like?

Story - Written

Screen shot of article cover photo: As Conservatorship Abuse Gains More Attention, More Activists Speak Out Against It

As Conservatorship Abuse Gains More Attention, More Activists Speak Out Against It

Story - Written

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Other Resources

Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs Brief

Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs Brief

Resource

PDF Cover: Pair of ACEs Tree

Pair of ACEs Tree

Resource

First page of the PDF version of Strengthening Safety Nets: A Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for Colleges and Universities

Strengthening Safety Nets: A Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for Colleges and Universities

Resource

screen capture

Planet Earth Reboot: Our Mental Wellness as we Emerge from COVID-19

Resource

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