New Census Disability Statistics Released: One in Five Americans have a Disability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2008

    * Robert Bernstein
    * Public Information Office
    * 301-763-3030/763-3762 (fax)
    * e-mail: [email protected]

>>> For the Disability Statistic Charts

Number of Americans With a Disability Reaches 54.4 Million

      About one in five U.S. residents - 19 percent - reported some level of disability in 2005, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released today. These 54.4 million Americans are roughly equal to the combined total populations of California and Florida.

      Both the number and percentage of people with disabilities were higher than in 2002, the last time the Census Bureau collected such information. At that time, 51.2 million, or 18 percent, reported a disability.

      Among those with a disability, 35 million, or 12 percent of the population, were classified as having a severe disability, according to Americans With Disabilities: 2005.

      Nearly half (46 percent) of people age 21 to 64 with a disability were employed, compared with 84 percent of people in this age group without a disability. Among those with disabilities, 31 percent with severe disabilities and 75 percent with nonsevere disabilities were employed. People with difficulty hearing were more likely to be employed than those with difficulty seeing (59 percent compared with 41 percent).

      A portion of people with disabilities — 11 million age 6 and older — needed personal assistance with everyday activities. These activities include such tasks as getting around inside the home, taking a bath or shower, preparing meals and performing light housework.

Other important findings:

    * Among people 15 and older, 7.8 million (3 percent) had difficulty hearing a normal conversation, including 1 million being unable to hear at all. Although not part of the definition of disability used in the report, 4.3 million people reported using a hearing aid.

    * Roughly 3.3 million people, or 1 percent, age 15 and older used a wheelchair or similar device, with 10.2 million, or 4 percent, using a cane, crutches or walker.

    * Nearly 7.8 million people age 15 and older had difficulty seeing words or letters in ordinary newspaper print, including 1.8 million being completely unable to see.

    * More than 16 million people had difficulty with cognitive, mental or emotional functioning. This included 8.4 million with one or more problems that interfere with daily activities, such as frequently being depressed or anxious, trouble getting along with others, trouble concentrating and trouble coping with stress.

    * The chances of having a disability increase with age: 18.1 million people 65 and older, or 52 percent, had a disability. Of this number, 12.9 million, or 37 percent, had a severe disability. For people 80 and older, the disability rate was 71 percent, with 56 percent having a severe disability.

    * Among people 16 to 64, 13.3 million, or 7 percent, reported difficulty finding a job or remaining employed because of a health-related condition.

    * Among people 25 to 64 with a severe disability, 27 percent were in poverty, compared with 12 percent for people with a nonsevere disability and 9 percent for those without a disability.

    * Median monthly earnings were $1,458 for people with a severe disability, $2,250 for people with a nonsevere disability and $2,539 for those with no disability.

    * Parents reported that 228,000 children under age 3, or 2 percent, had a disability. Specifically, they either had a developmental delay or difficulty moving their arms or legs. In addition, there were 475,000 children 3 to 5 years, or 4 percent, with a disability, which meant they had either a developmental delay or difficulty walking, running or playing.

    * There were 4.7 million children 6 to 14, or 13 percent, with a disability. The most prevalent type was difficulty doing regular schoolwork (2.5 million, or 7 percent).

      The Survey of Income and Program Participation produces national-level estimates for the U.S. resident population and subgroups, and allows for the observation of trends over time, particularly of selected characteristics such as income, eligibility for and participation in transfer programs, household and family composition, labor force behavior and other associated events.

Comment Below: What would you attribute the increase in people with disabilities to?  What implications do you foresee of these statistics for our community as a whole? Do these statistics surprise you? How? What do you see as the number one priority to decrease poverty and increase employment in our community?

Comments

[Jeff Ridgeway]

Can I obtain a breakdown of disability state by state? I live and work in Alabama.

Jeff Ridgeway

[Glenn Ford, Advocate for People and Families Living with Brain Injury]

According to the CDC, Brain Injury is the leading cause of disability for those people under the age of 45. Approximately 1.6 million Americans were diagnosed with a disabling "Traumatic" Brain Injury every year... This does not include a large population who go undiagnosed; estimated upwards of another 1 million AND 10's of thousands more who have "acquired" brain injuries of other types not defined as "traumatic"... EVERY Year. Yet the census bureau only briefly touched on the possibilities of recording this data with a "cognitive" impairment.

"Mental Illness" is almost an equal number statistically, yet again only "emotional", cognitive, depression, learning disabilities, were surveyed.

All of these conditions can be picked up in diagnosis for both populations. The two "conditions" may overlap or be uniquely their own and in most places and by the World Health Organization are considered "Behavioral Health" issues, to include physical disability. Brain Injury and Mental Health range from severe to moderate to mild, incur significant impairments and subsequent disabling conditions for an individual. Both conditions are considered "permanent" (for life!) but with accomodations, medications, treatment and therapy people can live as productive a life as possible.

A vast majority of these populations are institutionalized - in prisons, are homeless or live in poverty.

Very little data or information was assessed by the surveys for Behavioral Health. The emphasis was mostly about physical disability. I fear that the census data is very weak in this area.

[deet]

I have seen stats on other sites and these numbers seem high. If you consider 50 million are disabled and that they are one in five than that makes for a total population of 250 million. Many agree that the U.S. has 300 million and then some. Using your numbers, haedline and simple math.

[day date watches]

I really enjoyed this article.
I am always trying to foster good relationships with people who can help my cause.