Disabilities
Population
- In 2007, there were 41,101,667 people with disabilities in the U.S.1
- 15.1% of the U.S. population
- 21,816,655 women and 19,285,012 men
- 11,797,113 people had a sensory disability.*2
- 25,711,377 people had a physical disability.3
- 8,035,138 of these disabilities were self-care disabilities.4
Labor Force
- In March 2009, people with disabilities were 4.0% of the labor force.5
- In 2007, 13,617,670 of people ages 16-64 had a work disability.**6
- 7,061,126 women and 6,556,544 men
- In March 2009, of people with any disability ages 16-64, 5,312,000 were employed, 802,000 were unemployed, and 20,728,000 were not in the labor force.5
- During the Fiscal Year 2008, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 19,453 charges of disability discrimination.7
- The Job Accommodation Network found that found that 49.4% of accommodations suggested to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act had no cost and the remaining 50.6% had costs under $600.8
- Of those with cost, 84.7% was a one-time cost
- The remaining 15.3% had either an annual cost or a combination of one-time and annual costs
Race/Ethnicity
- African American and American Indians/Alaska Native populations had the highest percentages of people with disabilities, ages 16-64.9
- 20.9% of American Indian and Alaska Natives
- 16.1% of African Americans
- 11.5% of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders
- 12.1% of Whites
- 9.7% Latinos/Latinas (Hispanics may be of any race)
- 6.2% of Asians
* People may have more than one disability.
** For a definition of Work Disability, see the “Methodology For Identifying Persons With A Work Disability In The Current PopulationSurvey"
SOURCES
1 U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2007, “B18002: Sex By Age By Disability Status For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over” (2007).
2 U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2007, “B18003: Sex By Age By Sensory Disability For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over" (2007).
3 U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2007, “B18004: Sex By Age By Physical Disability For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over" (2007).
4 U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2007, “B18006: Sex By Age By Self-Care Disability For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over" (2007).
5 Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Table 1. Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population by Sex, Age, and Disability Status, Not Seasonally Adjusted" (2009).
6 U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2007, “B18008: Sex By Age By Employment Disability For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 16 To 64 Years - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 16 To 64 Years" (2007).
7 EEOC, "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) Charges (includes concurrent charges with Title VII, ADEA, and EPA) FY 1997-FY2008" (2009).
8 Job Accommodation Network, "Workplace Accomodations: Low Cost, High Impact," (2007).
9 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2007, “B18020: Disability Status By Sex By Age By Employment Status For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 16 To 64 Years - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 16 To 64 Years” (2007).
UPDATED April 21, 2009
