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Promoting Wellness for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2007
Senator Harkin introduced S 1050 on March 29, 2007. The bill is known as the “Promoting Wellness for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2007”.
The bill's purpose is to amend the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Public Health Service Act to set standards for medical diagnostic equipment and to establish a program for promoting good health, disease prevention, and wellness and for the prevention of secondary conditions for individuals with disabilities , and for other purposes. The bill currently has 2 co-sponsors. The Senate Committee has read the bill twice and has sent it on to the House Committee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions.
The companion bill (H.R. 3294) was introduced by Representative Lowey and currently has 6 co-sponsors. The bill has been referred to committee in the House.
There are three primary provisions that are of key interest to individuals with disabilities and those who advocate for them.
- Require the Architecture and Transportation Access Boards to develop standards for medical diagnostic equipment to make this equipment (i.e, exam tables, mammography) accessible to people with disabilities.
- Authorizes grants for wellness programs. These wellness programs are broadly defined and encompass smoking cessation, increasing physical. Activity and reducing obesity.
- Amends the Public Health Act to require Medical Schools and Dental Schools to include training in their curriculums that focuses on people with disabilities, including people with cognitive disabilities.