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Americans with Disabilities Act:
July 26
On this day in 1990, President George H.W.
Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), guaranteeing
equal opportunity for people with disabilities in public accommodations,
commercial facilities, employment, transportation, state and local government
services, and telecommunications.
Population
Distribution
41.2 million
Number
of people who have some level of disability. They represent 15 percent of the
civilian noninstitutionalized population 5 and older.
By age —
6 percent of children 5 to 15 have disabilities.
12 percent of people 16 to 64 have disabilities.
41 percent of adults 65 and older have
disabilities.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
15%
Percentage of females with
a disability, compared with 14 percent of males.
Source: 2007 American
Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Using
or Needing Assistance
11 million
Number of disabled people
6 and older who need personal assistance with everyday activities. This group
amounts to 4 percent of people in this age category. These activities include
such tasks as getting around inside the home, taking a bath or shower,
preparing meals and performing light housework.
3.3 million
Number of people 15 and
older who use a wheelchair. Another 10.2 million use an ambulatory aid such as
a cane, crutches or walker.
Specific
Disabilities
1.8 million
Number of people 15 and
older who report being unable to see printed words at all or were blind.
1 million
Number of people 15 and
older who reported deafness or being unable to hear conversations at all.
2.5 million
Number of people 15 and
older who have some difficulty having their speech understood by others. Of
this number, 431,000 were unable to have their speech understood at all.
16.1 million
Number
of people with limitations in cognitive functioning, or who have a mental or
emotional illness that interferes with daily activities, including those with
Alzheimer’s disease and mental retardation. This group comprises 7 percent of
the population 15 and older. 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.
On
the Job
13.3 million
Number
of 16- to 64-year-olds who reported a medical condition that makes it difficult
to find a job or remain employed. They comprise 7 percent of the population
this age.
46%
Percentage of people 21
to 64 having some type of disability who were employed in the past year. The
rate ranged from 75 percent of those with a nonsevere disability to 31 percent
with a severe disability. For those without a disability, the employment rate
is 84 percent for the same period.
59%
Percent of people 21 to
64 with difficulty hearing that were employed. The corresponding percentage for
those with difficulty seeing was 41 percent.
48%
Percentage of people 21
to 64 with a nonsevere disability who work full time. This compares with 63
percent without a disability and 16 percent with a severe disability.
Income
and Poverty
$2,250
Median monthly earnings
for people 21 to 64 with a nonsevere disability. This compares with $2,539 for
those with no disability and $1,458 for those with a severe disability.
$2,252
Median monthly earnings
for people 21 to 64 with difficulty hearing. The corresponding figure for those
with difficulty seeing was $1,932.
12%
The poverty rate for
people 25 to 64 with a nonsevere disability. This compares with 27 percent for
those with a severe disability and 9 percent of those without a disability.
Serving
Our Nation
$28.2 billion
Amount
of compensation veterans received for service-connected disabilities in fiscal
year 2007.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 505
<http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>.
Accommodations
98.5%
Percent of transit buses
that were ADA lift- or ramp-equipped, as of 2006. This represents an increase
from 61.7 percent in 1995.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States:
2009, Table 1075 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>.
Unless otherwise indicated, all the data are
from the Americans with Disabilities: 2005 report at
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/013041.html>.
SOURCE: Census Bureau’s Facts for Features
series.
Editor’s note: The preceding data were
collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability
and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about
two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production
timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s
Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or
e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.
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