Individualized Education Programs and their Effects on Preventive Medical, Dental and Vision Care

Abstract Purpose: Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are designed to help children with disabilities to progress through general education and transition into the adulthood. The IEP is an opportunity to increase health awareness and advocate for preventive health for the child who is at an increased risk for multiple health problems such as obesity and oral health problems. The aim of this study is to examine the exposure to IEP and its association with three preventive health outcomes--preventive medical care, preventive dental care, and preventive vision care—for disabled youth from 6-17 years of age. Methods: Using the National Survey of Children’s Health 2011-2012 dataset, we conducted a cross-sectional study of children ages 6-17. 65,480 children were categorized into two categories: those with an IEP and those without. We then compared the association between IEP exposure and the three preventive health outcomes in three separate models utilizing logistic regression. Results: At a significance of α=0.05, children with an IEP are 31% more likely to receive preventive medical care and 35% more likely to receive preventive vision care when compared to children without an IEP. In contrast, children with an IEP are 8% less likely to receive preventive dental care, though this was not significant at α=0.05. Conclusion: The results of this study appear to justify the role of IEPs in improving health outcomes for children with disabilities. The continuation of these programs and further integration of health education could prove to be pivotal in shaping the life-course of children with disabilities as they transition to more independent roles after exiting the school system.