Health Promotion for Persons with Disabilities: Moving Beyond Rehabilitation

Abstract Persons with disabilities are at significant risk for additional or secondary disabilities. Because of this increased risk, especially for persons suffering from the "disuse syndrome," it is important that a comprehensive health promotion component is included in the rehabilitation program for disabled individuals. Current concepts of disability are discussed as well as the distinctions between primary and secondary disabilities. Specific types and causes of disabilities are identified and described. Each type of secondary disability is assessed in terms of its "preventability." Examples and characteristics of quality programs for health promotion for disabled persons are presented. Recommendations for further research and study are discussed to include the need for determining effective components of successful programs and ways to encourage the field of rehabilitation to incorporate health promotion into the rehabilitation process for its disabled clients.