| CB02-FF.11 | July
12, 2002
|
12th Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act (July 26)
Population Distribution
49.7 million
Number of people age 5 and over with a disability, according to Census 2000;
this is a ratio of nearly 1-in-5 U.S. residents, or 19 percent.
Among these —
- 5.2 million were between the ages of 5 and 20. This was 8 percent
of people in this age group.
- 30.6 million were between the ages of 21 and 64. Fifty-seven percent
of them were employed.
- 14.0 million were 65 and over. Those with disabilities comprised 42 percent of people in this age group.
24%
Proportion of Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and West Virginia residents 5
and over who had a disability in 2000, among the highest rates in the nation.
At the other end of the spectrum, Alaska, Minnesota and Utah had disability
rates around 15 percent.
(For further information, see <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/demoprofiles.html>)
Earnings and Education
$33,109
According to the March 2001 supplement to the Current Population Survey, these
are the mean earnings in 2000 of year-round, full-time workers 16 to 64 with
work disabilities. By comparison, those without work disabilities earned
an average of $43,269.
72%
Percentage of people 16 to 64 with work disabilities who had high school diplomas
or higher education in 2001.
11%
Percentage of people 16 to 64 with work disabilities who had college degrees
or more in 2001.
(For further information, see <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/disable/disabcps.html>)
Specific Disabilities
According to a report titled “Americans With Disabilities: 1997,” based on the Survey of Income and Program Participation, among people 15 and over in 1997:
- 25 million had difficulty walking a quarter mile or climbing a flight
of 10 stairs, or used an ambulatory aid, such as a wheelchair (2.2 million)
or a cane, crutches or a walker (6.4 million).
- About 18 million had difficulty lifting and carrying a 10-pound bag
of groceries or grasping small objects.
- About 14.3 million had a mental disability, including 1.9 million
with Alzheimer’s disease, senility or dementia; and 3.5 million with
learning disabilities.
- About 8.0 million had difficulty hearing what was said in a normal
conversation with another person (even when wearing a hearing aid); of these,
800,000 were unable to hear what was said in a normal conversation.
- About 7.7 million had difficulty seeing the words and letters in ordinary
newspaper print
(even with glasses); of these, 1.8 million were unable to see words and letters in ordinary newspaper print.
(For further information, see <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-46.html>)
The preceding facts come from Census 2000, the Current Population Survey and the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Due to the scope of the questionnaires, these three surveys use very different definitions of disability. As a result, the number of people classified as having a disability is not comparable among the three sources. Additionally, the data are subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Previous 2002 Census Bureau Facts for Features: African American History Month (February), Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14), Women’s History Month (March), St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), Census Bureau Centennial (March 6), Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May), Older Americans Month (May), Mother’s Day (May 12), Father’s Day (June 16) and The Fourth of July. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office (tel: [301] 763-3030; fax: [301] 457-3670; e-mail: <pio@census.gov>).
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