About Us

The Disability Health Action Network (DHAN) is a statewide collaborative initiative by The Arc of Pennsylvania (The Arc of PA), committed to addressing inequities in the disability community and advancing the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvania. We recognize the unique challenges faced by this community and strive to address them through collaborative strategies. By forging partnerships among physical/oral/behavioral healthcare professionals and stakeholders, disability stakeholders, advocacy groups, government agencies, researchers, and community organizations, DHAN fortifies our collective ability to address the multifaceted healthcare needs of individuals with disabilities.

 

Read our 2025-2026 Action Plan

Key Objectives

Funded through a grant by the Pennsylvania Department of Health through the CDC’s National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, DHAN’s key objectives are to:

Foster effective communication between stakeholders.

The power of communication and collaboration has the potential to change health outcomes for those with disabilities. DHAN will facilitate partnerships among physical/oral/behavioral healthcare professionals and stakeholders, disability stakeholders, advocacy groups, government agencies, researchers, and community organizations to create a network that strengthens our collective ability to address the multifaceted needs of individuals with disabilities.

Promote equitable access to healthcare.

DHAN seeks to promote equitable access to healthcare by dismantling barriers that impede people with disabilities from accessing quality healthcare services. DHAN aims to create an action plan that addresses issues such as physical accessibility, communication barriers, and discrimination. Through collaboration with healthcare providers, policymakers, and advocacy organizations, DHAN will foster a community that is committed to creating an inclusive healthcare environment that promotes respect and optimal health outcomes for all.

Enhance overall health outcomes.

By completing key objectives 1 and 2, DHAN will enhance overall health outcomes for people with disabilities in PA. By prioritizing research, education, and innovative approaches, DHAN aims to significantly elevate the quality of healthcare for this community, empowering individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling and healthy lives.

Work Groups

To accomplish our objectives, DHAN is comprised of five Work Groups, each progressing towards their own goals.

Access

Create a current resource about telehealth information that ensures people with disabilities and their families have access to information on telehealth services, accommodations, and policy allowances.

Data and Research

Identify data sources that currently exist within the healthcare system as relates to individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvania.

Qualified Staff

Curate existing curricula to be introduced for use in universities, hospital networks, and other educational settings and create a communication strategy introducing the healthcare community to the disability community, explaining why health equity matters.

Voices & Policy

Two Work Groups (Voices & Policy) have come together for the 2025-2026 Action Plan to accomplish overlapping goals:

1. Advance the reactivation of the Governor’s Cabinet and Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities to increase involvement of people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers in policy making and healthcare decisions and development of systems at the beginning of their process.

2. Advocate for the Governor to formally urge the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) to designate people with disabilities as a Medically Underserved Population (MUP).

Interested in getting involved?

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History & Background

DHAN was established by The Arc of PA in 2023 to address longstanding health disparities experienced by people with disabilities. DHAN grew out of The Arc of PA’s Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among People with Disabilities, a project funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health that revealed significant systemic barriers to equitable healthcare – challenges that were magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August 2023, The Arc of PA published its landmark report, “Recommendations for Addressing COVID-19 Health Disparities Among the Disability Community,” which outlined solutions for advancing health equity across the Commonwealth.

Building on this foundation and the drive to advance these solutions, DHAN was formed as a statewide coalition of self-advocates, families, providers, public health professionals, and policymakers committed to health equity.

Visit The Arc of PA’s website to learn more.