Susan Havercamp, PhD, Associate Professor & Director of the Health Promotion and Healthcare Parity Program at the Ohio State University Nisonger Center
One in four Ohioans have a disability, and many of those lead healthy, fulfilling lives. However, people with disabilities face multiple barriers to achieving optimal health. Historically, people with disabilities have been overlooked in the context of public health, which has led to an increased risk of preventable chronic disease and premature death among people with disabilities. This intensive course is designed to allow health professionals to better serve people with disabilities. The course will examine the history of disability in the United States; explore the intersection of disability with other marginalized identities, such as race, sex, ethnicity, poverty, sexual orientation, and identity; investigate disability in the context of health equity; teach skills pertaining to the epidemiology of disability; analyze disability and health datasets; and define public health interventions in disability. By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate the importance of disability inclusion in public health, utilize data to examine opportunities for better health, and apply disability theory to create inclusive public health interventions.