The 15th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act will be July 26, 2005. One of the best-known pieces of US legislation, in my experience, anywhere I go in the world, below are some facts about the people it protects.
15th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act: July 26, 2005
By U.S. Census Bureau
May 26, 2005, 07:51
Facts for Features
On this day in 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the
Americans with Disabilities Act, guaranteeing equal opportunity for
people with disabilities in public accommodations, commercial facilities,
employment, transportation, state and local government services and
telecommunications.
Population Distribution
37.5 million
Number of people age 5 and over in the civilian noninstitutionalized
population with at least one disability, representing 14 percent. These
individuals fit at least one of the following descriptions: they are 5
years old or older and have a sensory, physical, mental or self-care
disability; they are 16 years old or older and have difficulty going
outside the home; or they are 16 to 64 years old and have an employment
disability.
By age and sex
8% of boys and 4% of girls ages 5 to 15 have
disabilities.
12% of men and 11% of women ages 16 to 64 have
disabilities. This apparent difference is not statistically significant.
42% of women and 38% of men 65 or older have
disabilities.
42%
Percentage of working-age men (21 to 64) with disabilities who are
employed. For women, the rate is 34 percent. Altogether, 4.0 million men
and 3.5 million women with disabilities are employed.
847,000
Number of people ages 18 to 34 who have disabilities and are enrolled in
school. They comprise 5 percent of all students in this age group. The
majority of this group (567,000) attend college or graduate school.
For further information on the data appearing in the Population
Distribution section, see
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/disability/2003acs.html.
Specific Disabilities
10.8 million
The number of people age 5 or older with a sensory disability involving
sight or hearing. This group accounts for 4.1 percent of the civilian
noninstitutionalized population age 5 or older.
23.6 million
The number of people age 5 or older with a condition limiting basic
physical activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting
or carrying. This group accounts for 9.0 percent of the civilian
noninstitutionalized population age 5 or older.
13.5 million
The number of people age 5 or older with a physical, mental or emotional
condition causing difficulty in learning, remembering or concentrating.
This group accounts for 5.1 percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized
population age 5 or older.
7.0 million
Number of people age 5 or older who have a physical, mental or emotional
condition causing difficulty in dressing, bathing or moving around inside
the home. This group accounts for 2.7 percent of the civilian
noninstitutionalized population age 5 or older.
10.7 million
Number of people age 16 or older who have a condition that makes it
difficult to go outside the home to shop or visit a doctor. This group
accounts for 4.9 percent of civilian noninstitutionalized people who are
of this age.
11.8 million
Number of people ages 16 to 64 who have a condition that affects their
ability to work at a job or business. They account for 6.4 percent of
civilian noninstitutionalized people in this age group.
For further information on the data appearing in the Specific
Disabilities section, see
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/disability/2003acs.html.
Serving Our Nation
2.5 million
Number of veterans who received compensation for service-related
disabilities as of 2003. Of these vets, 414,000 served in World War II;
164,000 in Korea; 848,000 in Vietnam; and 476,000 in the Persian Gulf
(the data cover service from Aug. 2, 1990 to Sept. 30, 2003). See Table
515 at http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-04.html.