Statistics of the Month - October Americans with disabilities As of 2004 Only 35 percent of people with disabilities reported being employed full or part time, compared to 78 percent of those who do not have disabilities. Three times as many live in poverty with annual household incomes below $15,000 (26 percent versus 9 percent). People with disabilities remain twice as likely to drop out of high school (21 percent versus 10 percent). They are twice as likely to have inadequate transportation (31 percent versus 13 percent), and a much higher percentage go without needed health care (18 percent versus 7 percent). People with disabilities are less likely to socialize, eat out, or attend religious services than their non-disabled counterparts. Not surprisingly given the persistence of these gaps, life satisfaction for people with disabilities also trails, with only 34 percent saying they are very satisfied compared to 61 percent of those without disabilities. Although 22 percent of employed people with disabilities report encountering job discrimination, this is a dramatic drop from 36 percent four years ago. The severity of disability makes a significant difference in all of the gap areas, and people with severe disabilities have much greater disadvantages. People with disabilities are much more worried about their future health and well-being. Half are worried about not being able to care for themselves or being a burden to their families, compared to a quarter of other Americans. Americans with disabilities rely on assistive technology, and a third say they would lose their independence without this technology. People with disabilities are more likely to have a common sense of identity with other people with disabilities; 56 percent now say they do, compared to 47 percent in 2000. Source: 2004 National Organization on Disability/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, National Organization on Disabilities, http://www.nod.org *Disclaimer: Although we try to use the most credible sources, we are not responsible for any incorrect findings. Read more: Statistics of the month - September: Latin American Women Want more statistics, on a variety of topics? Visit our Diversity Statistics page.

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