Supporting Capabilities for Flourishing: Philosophical Foundations of Equity in Health and Well-Being for People With Disabilities

There remain many inequities and challenges for people with developmental disabilities in health and well-being. Although acknowledging that access to health services is a real concern, this article argues that our very conception of health might at times be in contention with supportive outcomes for people with disabilities. Rather than a narrow focus on health, with the help of the capabilities approach in ethics, we suggest a broader view of well-being and flourishing that might better serve more equitable outcomes. Finally, we look to pragmatist meliorist ethics to explore how interventions like outdoor recreation might contribute to greater well-being for people with disabilities.