Census: 54.4 Million Americans Have a
Disability
About one in five U.S. residents - 19
percent - reported some level of disability in 2005, according to a U.S. Census
Bureau report recently released. 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 non-severe 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 non-severe
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 non-severe 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. |
