Quick Takes

Published: December 2007

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Population

• In 2005, there were 41,261,809 people with disabilities in the U.S.¹
  • 15.1% of the U.S. population
  • 21,899,563 women and 19,362,246 men
• 11,829,958 people had a sensory disability.^*2
• 25,780,606 people had a physical disability.³
• 8,295,013 of these disabilities were self-care disabilities.⁴

Labor Force

• In 2006, people with disabilities were 7.0% of the labor force.⁵
• In 2006, 13,667,248 of people ages 16-64 had a work disability.^**6
  • 7,061,279 women and 6,605,969 men
• Of people with any disability ages 16-64, 8,868,563 were employed and 14,994,534 were not employed.⁷
• During the Fiscal Year 2006, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 15,575charges of disability discrimination, or 20.6% of total complaints to the EEOC.⁸
• The Job Accommodation Network found that found that 46% of accommodations suggested to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act had no cost, while 45% had a one-time cost under $500.⁹

Race/Ethnicity

• African American and American Indians/Alaska Native populations had the highest percentages of people with disabilities, ages 16-64.⁷
  • 20.2% of American Indian and Alaska Natives
  • 16.2% of African Americans
  • 11.7% of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders
  • 12.1% of Whites
  • 9.7% Latinos/Latinas (Hispanics may be of any race)
  • 6.1% 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

¹U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2006, “B18002: Sex By Age By Disability Status For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over.”

²U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2006, “B18003: Sex By Age By Sensory Disability For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over.

³U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2006, “B18004: Sex By Age By Physical Disability For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 5 Years And Over.

⁴ U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2006, “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.

⁵U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2006, “B18020: Disability Status By Sex By Age By Employment Status For the Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 16 to 64 Years – University: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 16 to 64 Years.

⁶U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2006, “B18008: Sex By Age By Employment Disability For The Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 16 To 64 Years - Universe: Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population 16 To 64 Years.

⁷U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2006, “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.”

⁸ EEOC, “Charge Statistics: FY 1997 through FY 2006” (2007).

⁹Job Accommodation Network, "Workplace Accomodations: Low Cost, High Impact," (2007).

UPDATED 12-18-07