News / Events

The Disability and Health Team is pleased to spotlight current disability news and events.

  HHS Creates a New Office to Oversee Disability Programs

Secretary Thompson has announced the creation of the HHS Office on Disability to oversee the coordination, development, and implementation of programs and special initiatives within HHS that impact people with disabilities. Margaret J. Giannini, M.D., F.A.A.P., currently the principal deputy assistant secretary for aging at the Administration on Aging, has been appointed to lead the new office.

The announcement builds on the work of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, a comprehensive plan to tear down barriers facing people with disabilities, which prevent them from fully participating in community life. The new office will help centralize many of the recommended strategies outlined in a report to President Bush, which explored solutions to reducing barriers in all areas of society for people with disabilities.

"HHS is engaged in important and dynamic work to help the nearly 54 million Americans living with disabilities," Secretary Thompson said. "The new Office on Disability will bring increased focus and awareness to the issue, and will allow the department to interact with valuable partners in the most effective manner. Margaret Giannini will bring a wealth of expertise to the position and we look forward to her leadership."

  Surgeon General's Initiative on Mental Retardation  

In February 2002, the Surgeon General released CLOSING THE GAP: A National Blueprint to Improve the Health of Persons with Mental Retardation, a Report of the Surgeon General's Conference on Health Disparities and Mental Retardation, which was held December 5-6, 2001. 

The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities including the Disability and Health Team played an integral part in the efforts to develop this groundbreaking report.

Olmstead and the New Freedom Initiative In 2001, on the heels of the United States Supreme Court Olmstead case, the United States President established the New Freedom Initiative.  This initiative helps people with disabilities who are moving from large or institutional living facilities into supportive community housing.   We give grants to several state disability and health offices for projects to promote the health and well-being of people with disabilities. One program, the "Living Well With a Disability" health promotion curriculum, was featured in a report from Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. The report, entitled "Delivering on the Promise: Preliminary Report of Federal Agencies’ Actions to Eliminate Barriers and Promote Community Integration" can be found on the Web.