OVERVIEW OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Employment

Employment is a key factor in the social integration and economic self-sufficiency of working-age persons (aged 21–64) with disabilities. According to 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21.3 percent of working-age persons with a disability were employed compared to 65.4 percent of persons with no disability. Among workers with a disability, 30 percent were employed part-time compared with 16 percent for those with no disability. Employed persons with a disability were more likely to be self-employed than those with no disability.

Employment rates vary by the type of disability—they are highest for persons with hearing disabilities (53.6 percent) and vision disabilities (45.4 percent) and lowest for those with self-care disabilities (16.2 percent) and independent living disabilities (18.1 percent).

The unemployment rate for persons with a disability (7.6 percent), which was twice that of persons without a disability (3.5 percent), declined in 2022 from the previous year in both groups.

Household income

Employment and employability determine annual income for persons with and without disabilities. According to the Disability Status Report, in 2018 the median annual earnings of working-age individuals with disabilities who worked full-time/full-year was $40,500 compared with $49,200 among those without disabilities.

Poverty

In 2019, 25.9 percent of adults with disabilities experienced poverty compared with 11.4 percent of the U.S. population without disabilities. The poverty rate for persons living with disabilities was highest in the District of Columbia (35.5 percent) and lowest in Delaware (18.3 percent).

Health insurance

Individuals with disabilities are more likely to rely on federal and state-funded health insurance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, compared with those without disabilities. In 2018, 19 percent of working-age people with disabilities received Supplemental Security Income payments.

Education level

In 2018, the education levels of working-age persons with disabilities in the United States were as follows: ο 34.2 percent: no higher than a high school diploma or equivalent ο 32.0 percent: some college or an associate degree ο 15.2 percent: a bachelor’s degree or more

Federal regulations supporting persons with disabilities in the United States: AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (1990)—A civil rights law that protects persons with disabilities from discrimination in most settings, including federal and local governments, schools, and employers.

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (1975)—Supports special education and related services for children and youth with disabilities. This regulation includes eligibility requirements for establishing an Individualized Education Plan for students with disabilities.

THE REHABILITATION ACT (1973)—Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and applies to any program that receives federal financial support. This regulation includes Section 504, which requires schools to provide free appropriate public education to each qualified student.

Diabetes And Persons With Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities, which includes persons with diabetes. This law applies to persons with diabetes in settings such as government services, public accommodations, schools, and the workplace—including occupational positions such as truckers, pilots, and military personnel.

Persons with diabetes are at higher risk for additional disabilities due to diabetes complications—such as blindness, amputation, heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. In general, persons with diabetes report rates of disability that are higher than those reported by the overall population. This includes the types of disability described by ACS.

In 2018, about 1 in 6 persons with disabilities (16.7 percent) in the United States had been diagnosed with diabetes, compared with 1 in 14 persons without disabilities (7.4 percent).

Risk Factors Related To Prediabetes And Diabetes

Persons who have overweight (body mass index [BMI] of 25 or greater) or obesity (BMI of 30 or greater) are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high levels of blood fats—which are all risk factors for heart disease and stroke. In 2019, the obesity rate for U.S. adults with disabilities was 40 percent, compared with 28 percent for adults without disabilities. In 2019, 23.1 percent of adults with disabilities were smokers compared with 12.3 percent of adults without disabilities. Smoking increases a person’s risk for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Most persons with disabilities report their health as good, very good, or excellent—particularly those in a supportive environment with available resources. However, the percentage of persons with disabilities who view their health in one of these three categories is smaller than the percentage of those without disabilities who report the same. Studies have shown that adults with disabilities are more likely than those without disabilities to report physical inactivity, poorer overall health, less access to quality health care, and feelings of isolation. Persons with disabilities often are at greater risk for secondary health conditions—including chronic pain, depression, and chronic illnesses.