The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities

Four Goals of the Call to Action

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities identifies four specific goals for the nation to improve the health and wellness of persons with disabilities.

• GOAL 1: People nationwide understand that persons with disabilities can lead long, healthy, productive lives.
• GOAL 2: Health care providers have the knowledge and tools to screen, diagnose and treat the whole person with a disability with dignity.
• GOAL 3: Persons with disabilities can promote their own good health by developing and maintaining healthy lifestyles.
• GOAL 4: Accessible health care and support services promote independence for persons with disabilities.

“This Call to Action encourages health care providers to see and treat the whole person, not just the disability; educators to teach about disability; a public to see an individual’s abilities, not just his or her disability; and a community to ensure accessible health care and wellness services for persons with disabilities.”

Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS

Suggested Citation:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2005.

Last revised: January 4, 2007