Disability Statistics

Question 1

Why are disability statistics so variable?

Answer 1

• Differences in how “disability” is defined: narrow definitions result in smaller % of people reporting disability, while broader definitions result in larger %
• Differences in data collection methods: some surveys rely on individuals vs. on observation. Also if purpose of data is to see if person is eligible for gov’t benefits, more people likely to report disability than other times when reporting could lead to stigma. Wording also matters e.g. Do you have a disability? vs. Do you have difficulty seeing text well enough to read it?
• Political or public relations biases: country/org may not report accurate numbers in fear of shining unfavorable light on situation

Question 2

What percentage of the older population has disabilities?

Answer 2

30-60% (compared to 10-20% for whole population)
In countries with life expectancies of 70+ years old, people spend about 8 years on avg (11.5% of their life span) living with disabilities

Question 3

What are the percentages of the types of disabilities among persons 65 and older with a disability in the U.S.?

Answer 3

• Independent living: 15%
• Self-care: 9%
• Ambulatory: 23%
• Vision: 7%
• Hearing: 15%
• Any disability: 36%

Question 4

What is the connection between disabilities and lower levels of education?

Answer 4

• Education system is not adequately equipped to handle students with disabilities or there are other barriers that reduce availability or quality of education for students with disabilities
• In case of severe disabilities, individuals may not be capable of completing traditional education
• People with disabilities may not be as qualified for jobs as other candidates, so jobs are less likely to go to candidates with disabilities
• Can lead to cycle of poverty and lost opportunities

Question 5

How do the percentages of people with disabilities compare between people of any age vs. 70+ and 80+ years old?

Answer 5

• Any age: 10%
• 70+: 20%
• 80+: 50%

Question 6

What percentage of people with disabilities live in poverty in the U.S.?

Answer 6

• People with disabilities 2x as likely to live in poverty than general population in U.S.
• ~30% of people with disabilities live below poverty line

Question 7

What percentage of people with disabilities age 65 and older in the United States are living with ambulatory disabilities?

Answer 7

23%

Question 8

What is the connection between disabilities, workplace discrimination, and unemployment?

Answer 8

• People with disabilities as a group tend to be disproportionately represented among those who are unemployed (even after taking disability into account)
• In most cases, people with disabilities are willing and able to perform when given chance. In only a minority of cases does disability itself and/or related health issues severely limit individual’s ability to work.
• Workplace discrimination often reduces employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Question 9

In what ways are disabilities expensive?

Answer 9

• Can be expensive for person, family, caregivers
• Cost of daily tasks is often higher for person with a disability
• Many people with disabilities who need these supports cannot afford them, which is a difficult cycle to break out of

Question 10

What is the avg number of years people spend living with a disability in a country where life expectancy is 70+ years?

Answer 10

8 years