Priscilla Lansing Sanderson, M.S., CRC, Robert M. Schacht, Ph.D., Julie A. Clay, MPH

“I live out in the rural area and I haul water round trip – 25 miles and the only guys that help me are my kids. I have a boy and a girl and they are only small, and we tried to haul water out there, and I was just trying to get somebody to get water out there or even run a line out there or drill a well out there, but they never did. They never had time. I wrote letters to the IHS and I think there are a lot of handicapped people on the reservation that are just really neglected. I don’t know why but they could respond or say something, ‘I can’t do it’, ‘I can’t help you’ , that would be good.”
–Navajo consumer with a disability

Introduction
The purpose of this study was to understand the needs of American Indians with disabilities who may have problems that limit their ability to carry out daily activities such as walking, talking, working, eating, bathing, or shopping. Thirty-two American Indians

with disabilities were interviewed in three counties in northwest New Mexico. Respondents were asked about things they used or needed because of their disability. Results The average age of the respondents was 49 years. Most (56%) of the respondents were male. Respondents’ affiliations were Navajo (75%), Zuni (13%) and Laguna (6%). Many had more than one disability (average of 2.2 disabilities each). The most common disabilities were blindness, hearing impairments, and hypertension. The three most common activities that are limited by the respondents’ disabilities were “working on a job” (69%), “taking care of things/responsibilities” (66%), and “driving” (63%). The services needed but not received in the past year were: help with services (66%), help with food (59%), dental care (53%), help with clothing (53%) and help with housing (50%). The three most common service agencies providing help were Social Security Administration, Indian Health Service (IHS), and Medicaid/Medicare. Respondents needing personal assistance services indicated they had a person who helped them do activities of daily living. This person was usually a family member and usually female. Family members were preferred as personal assistants rather than someone paid by the government.

The top four consumer concerns in order of importance are:

1. Social Service providers should involve family members and extended family members in their rehabilitation.
   
2. You should feel safe in your own home and your neighborhood.
   
3. The Indian community understands the needs of its members with disabilities.
   
4. Information about legal rights and self advocacy is available to American Indians with disabilities.