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1 in 4 US adults live with a disability

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Cognitive disability is most common in younger adults; mobility disability is most common for others.

 

ABI Resources is committed to protecting the health and well-being of people with disabilities throughout their lives. ABI Resources will continue to work to lower health differences faced by people with disabilities.

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Less money, Less Health.

 

The percentage of adults with disability increases as their income decreases. Mobility disability is nearly five times as common among middle-aged (45- to 64-year-old) adults living below the poverty level compared to those whose income is twice the poverty level.

It is more common for adults 65 years and older with disabilities to have health insurance coverage, a primary doctor, and receive a routine health checkup during the previous 12 months, compared to middle-aged and younger adults with disabilities.
One in 4 U.S. adults – 61 million Americans – have a disability that impacts major life activities, according to the CDC.

The most common disability type, mobility, affects 1 in 7 adults. With age, disability becomes more common, affecting about 2 in 5 adults 65 and older. At some point in their lives, most people will either have a disability or know someone who has one. Using data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), this is the first CDC report of the percentage of adults across six disability types:

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Six types of disabilities were measured.

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1. Mobility (serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs)

2. Cognition (serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions)

3. Hearing (serious difficulty hearing)

4. Vision (serious difficulty seeing)

5. Independent living (difficulty doing errands alone)

6. Self-care (difficulty dressing or bathing)

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Data shows that disability is more common among women, non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives, adults with lower income, and adults living in the South Census region of the United States.

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The report also shows that:

After mobility disability, the next most common disability type is cognition, followed by independent living, hearing, vision, and self-care.
The percentage of adults with disability increased as income decreased. Mobility disability is nearly five times as common among middle-aged (45- to 64-year-old) adults living below the poverty level compared to those whose income is twice the poverty level.

It is more common for adults 65 years and older with disabilities to have health insurance coverage, a primary doctor, and receive a routine health checkup during the previous 12 months, compared to middle-aged and younger adults with disabilities.
Disability-specific differences in the ability to access health care are common, particularly among adults 18- to 44 years old and middle-aged adults. Generally, adults with vision disabilities report the least access to health care, while adults with self-care disabilities report the most access to care.

People with disabilities will benefit from care coordination and better access to health care and the health services they need to adopt healthy behaviors and have better health. Research showing how many people have a disability and differences in their access to health care can guide efforts by healthcare providers and public health practitioners to improve access to care for people with disabilities.