why it matters: disability in the population

Why It Matters:Disability in the Population

Kelly GonzalezVirginia ADA CoalitionAsk the Experts 2009

ADA Quiz

How many people with disabilities are there in the United States?

Answer

At least

54 MILLION

People with Disabilities

54 million Americans have a disability That’s 1 in 5 1 in 8, 27 million, live with a severe disability

Disability is the one minority that anyone can join – and, over time, many will! Data on the following charts is derived from the

1997 Survey of Income and Program Participation and the 2000 US Census

Medical Technology

More people are surviving previously fatal accidents and illnesses.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1900191019201930194019501960197019801990200020102020203020402050

85 up

75 to 84

65 to 74

55 to 64

Sources: 1900-1980: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Decennial Censuses of Population. 1990-2050: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Projections of the Population of the United States, by Age, Sex and Race: 1983 to 2080. Current Population Reports, Series P-25, No. 952, May 1984. Projections are middle series.

(percentage of the population over age 55 as a function of time)

The Graying of America

2000

What the future holds…

From 2011 until 2020, each and every day 10,000 more Americans will turn 65

By the year 2020 one in every four persons will be 65 years of age or older.

Many of these individual will also have a disability.

Prevalence of Selected Impairments within Age GroupsPrevalence of Selected Impairments within Age Groups

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Arthritis& Bursitis

Back & Spine

Other Physical

Impairments

Speech Impairments

Visual Impairments

Hearing Impairments

Mental Retardation

Diabetes

Based on data from LaPlante (1988)

Survey: National Health Interview Surveys, 1983-1985: tabulations from public use tapes

% of age group

Under 45

45-69

70-84

85+

(Data categories are not exclusive)

Buying Power of People with Disabilities

$0$100$200$300$400$500$600$700$800

Boomers PWD Teens

Discretionary Income in Billions of Dollars

What Does That All Mean?

Address Access Issues NowADA Requires it; Population will

Demand it

Think of Access as the NormMost People Are More Comfortable

with Larger PrintMost Folks prefer Ramps to Stairs

Virginia ADA Coalition

Providing Training, Resources and Information on the ADA across Virginia Coalition Coordinator: Kelly Gonzalez

757 461 8007 (v) 757 461 7527 (tty) kgonzalez@endependence.org

One of 10 regional centers providing:• Information• Technical Assistance• Materials• Newsletter• Training• Toll-free number: 1-800-949-4232 voice/tty• Web-site: www.adainfo.org• We serve Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia,

District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Delaware

DBTAC/Mid Atlantic ADA Center