American Indians with disabilities living on three reservations in Montana were specifically targeted in the development and implementation of a consumer-directed secondary disability surveillance instrument. Seventy-five American Indians completed the surveillance instrument reporting on the severity of 40 conditions that affected their health and independence. The data suggest that several environmental (e.g., access) and behavioral (e.g., pain management) problems are significant issues. These results parallel those from a broader sample of Montanans. However. due to the social-economic and political characteristics of American Indians with a disability, the preventive measures to decrease the incidence and prevalence of secondary disabilities may be difficult to achieve.
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