Facts about persons with disabilities in the US

May 29, 2009

Population Distribution

41.2 million
Number of people whohave some level of disability. They represent 15 percent of thecivilian noninstitutionalized population 5 and older.

By age —

6 percent of children 5 to 15 have disabilities.
12 percent of people 16 to 64 have disabilities.
41 percent of adults 65 and older have disabilities.

Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>

15%
Percentage of females with a disability, compared with 14 percent of males.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Using or Needing Assistance

11 million
Number of disabledpeople 6 and older who need personal assistance with everydayactivities. This group amounts to 4 percent of people in this agecategory. These activities include such tasks as getting around insidethe home, taking a bath or shower, preparing meals and performing lighthousework.

3.3 million
Number of people 15 and older who use a wheelchair. Another 10.2million use an ambulatory aid such as a cane, crutches or walker.

Specific Disabilities

1.8 million
Number of people 15 and older who report being unable to see printed words at all or were blind.

1 million
Number of people 15 and older who reported deafness or being unable to hear conversations at all.

2.5 million
Number of people 15 and older who have some difficulty having theirspeech understood by others. Of this number, 431,000 were unable tohave their speech understood at all.

16.1 million
Number of people with limitations in cognitive functioning, or who havea mental or emotional illness that interferes with daily activities,including those with Alzheimer’s disease and mental retardation. Thisgroup comprises 7 percent of the population 15 and older. This included8.4 million with one or more problems that interfere with dailyactivities, such as frequently being depressed or anxious, troublegetting along with others, trouble concentrating and trouble copingwith stress.

On the Job

13.3 million
Number of 16- to 64-year-olds who reported a medical condition thatmakes it difficult to find a job or remain employed. They comprise 7percent of the population this age.

46%
Percentage of people 21 to 64 having some type of disability who wereemployed in the past year. The rate ranged from 75 percent of thosewith a nonsevere disability to 31 percent with a severe disability. Forthose without a disability, the employment rate is 84 percent for thesame period.

59%
Percent of people 21 to 64 with difficulty hearing that were employed.The corresponding percentage for those with difficulty seeing was 41percent.

48%
Percentage of people 21 to 64 with a nonsevere disability who work fulltime. This compares with 63 percent without a disability and 16 percentwith a severe disability.

Income and Poverty

$2,250
Median monthly earnings for people 21 to 64 with a nonseveredisability. This compares with $2,539 for those with no disability and$1,458 for those with a severe disability.

$2,252
Median monthly earnings for people 21 to 64 with difficulty hearing.The corresponding figure for those with difficulty seeing was $1,932.

12%
The poverty rate for people 25 to 64 with a nonsevere disability. Thiscompares with 27 percent for those with a severe disability and 9percent of those without a disability.

Serving Our Nation

$28.2 billion
Amount of compensation veterans received for service-connected disabilities in fiscal year 2007.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 505 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>.

Accommodations

98.5%
Percent of transit buses thatwere ADA lift- or ramp-equipped, as of 2006. This represents anincrease from 61.7 percent in 1995.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 1075 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>.

Unless otherwise indicated, all the data are from the Americans with Disabilities: 2005 report at
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/013041.html>.