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Numbers
from May 2021 O&P Almanac
by AOPA
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Perceptions of Patients With Disabilities
Studies spotlight obstacles for individuals with disabilities
Individuals with mobility issues comprise a significant segment of the more than 61 million Americans living with disabilities. Many of these individuals face biases or misperceptions when seeking healthcare—even among healthcare providers.
PERCEPTIONS REPORTED BY PHYSICIANS
HEALTHCARE ACCESS AMONG U.S. ADULTS, AGES 18-44, WITH DISABILITIES
DISABILITIES AMONG CHILDREN
82 Percent
Report that people with significant disability have worse quality of life than nondisabled
56 Percent
Strongly agree that they welcome patients with disability into their practices
41 Percent
Feel confident about their ability to provide the same quality of care to people with disabilities
18 Percent
Strongly agree that the healthcare system often treats these patients unfairly
1 in 3
Do not have a usual healthcare provider
1 in 3
Have an unmet healthcare need because of cost in the past year
>3 Million
Number of U.S. children under 18 who had a disability in 2019
4.3 Percent
Percentage of children who had a disability in 2019
0.6 Percent
Percentage of children ages 5-14 with ambulatory difficulty
0.7 Percent
Percentage of children ages 15-17 with ambulatory difficulty
DISABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES
26%
Percentage of U.S. adults who have some type of disability
13.7%
Percentage of U.S. adults who have mobility challenges “More than 30 years after the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 was enacted, these findings about physicians’ perceptions of this population raise questions about ensuring equitable care to people with disability. Potentially biased views among physicians could contribute to persistent healthcare disparities affecting people with disability.”
—“Physicians’ Perceptions of People With Disability and Their Healthcare,” Health Affairs, February 2021
