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 [PDF].
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. |
