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\n Major Survey on Indians with Disabilities Released (Washi ngton\, DC.) The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) in collabo ration with the National Center for American Indians with Disabilities (NCA ID) are conducting a comprehensive resource and needs assessment pilot proj ect called "\;Native Communities Living United for Disability Equality& quot\; (NCLUDE). This first of its kind survey will examine the level of in clusion of urban AI/ANs living with disabilities in California\, Oregon\, a nd Washington. This assessment is meant to identify barriers to care and se rvices\, as well as opportunities to expand services\, while increasing the knowledge base on this vulnerable population.
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\n Urban AI/A Ns living with disabilities face tremendous challenges to participate in th eir communities. Approximately 27% of nearly 5.4 million American Indian/Al aska Native (AI/AN) people living in the U.S. lives with a disability--a ra te higher than any other demographic group (2015 American Community Survey) . That translates to roughly 1 million urban AI/ANs nationally that live wi th disabilities\, given that 71% of the AI/AN population lives in urban are as.
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\n In spite of this number\, very little is actually kno wn about the lives of this vulnerable part of the community. There is littl e to no data and minimal knowledge is available in order to offer effective services for AI/ANs living with a disability. Largely unheard and marginal ized\, they have the lowest opportunity for access to culturally sensitive programs and services of all races. Therefore\, it is imperative to demonst rate through hard data what challenges and barriers that AI/ANs with disabi lities struggle with on a daily basis and why providing culturally competen t services is so vital for independent living.
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\n NCUIH and NCAID\, committed to cultural competency\, is consulting with an experience d Native researcher and a Native with a disability in order to ensure relev ancy. Native disability professional Cinda Hughes is an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe with nearly 20 years of advocacy and policy experience is t he current NCAID Executive Director. &ldquo\;AI/ANs with disabilities are t he least known and most vulnerable members of our people. Our voices and op inions are seldom solicited. This survey is absolutely vital to proving to decision-makers what our needs are in urban areas. I believe that the final report will be truly groundbreaking&rdquo\;.
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\n Dr. Eric S. Trevan\, PhD is a member of the faculty at The Evergreen State College and Chairman of Gun Lake Investments. He received his PhD in Community Resourc es and Development\, Arizona State University. He is from Michigan and a me mber of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians. &ldquo\;I am dedicated to improving the economic status of all tribal members\, incl uding AI/ANs with disabilities. This trailblazing survey will shine a light on a significant yet unheard from part of our community&rdquo\;.
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\n The survey is being sent to Native regional and national organizat ions\, to disability organizations and social service facilities. We strong ly urge all adult Natives with a disability living off the reservation in C alifornia\, Oregon\, and Washington to please participate and answer the su rvey. NCUIH will mail out a gift card to those who complete the survey. The online version of the NCLUDE Survey is located at this web address: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ JMPR2YZ
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\n Please share this article and survey web addr ess with those living off the reservation in California\, Oregon\, and Wash ington. For more information on NCUIH\, please visit: www.ncuih.org.

\n DTEND:20170918 DTSTAMP:20261019T193130 DTSTART:20170718 CLASS:PRIVATE SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Major Survey on Indians with Disabilities Released UID:2026-10-19T19:31:30-04:00_969870940@ncai.org END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR