Plan for U.S. disability health research doesn't include 'ableism'

By Louise Kinross

Last week this slide presentation of the National Institutes of Health's Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research in the United States for 2026 through 2030 was presented at the NIH Council of Councils Meeting.

It's very high level, and BLOOM wasn't able to get a more detailed copy because the author is out of the office due to the current U.S. government shutdown.

However, it sparked these initial thoughts.

One of the welcome objectives is to reduce disparities in health outcomes for disabled people. Oddly, there is no mention of ableism as a contributor, only references to "nonmedical" and "sociocultural" factors that impact health. 

The plan notes that disability health research will centre "the person, rather than the disability." This sounds like a person-first language approach to disability, which may seek to distance disability from the person, rather than identity-first descriptors adopted by many activists, who proudly speak of disabled identity, culture and community.

One of the goals is to make health research facilities, technology and resources accessible, and to "maximize the inclusion of people with disabilities as participants in clinical research." This is welcome. However, the slides don't mention specific measures to increase the number of disabled scientists. 

BLOOM will report back if a more detailed plan becomes available.

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