Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2020

PROFILE AMERICA FACTS FOR FEATURES: CB20-FF.06

JULY 20, 2020

On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodations, commercial facilities, telecommunications, and state and local government services.

This Facts for Features provides a demographic snapshot of the U.S. population with a disability and examines various services available to them. The statistics come from various U.S. Census Bureau censuses and surveys, covering different periods of time.

The following facts are possible thanks to responses to the Census Bureau’s surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we continuously measure America’s people, places and economy. 

Did You Know?

40.6 million or 12.6% 

The total civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability in the United States in 2018.

Source: 2018 American Community Survey

19.1%

The percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population in West Virginia in 2018 with a disability — the highest rate of any state in the nation. Utah, at 9.6%, had the lowest rate.

Source: 2018 American Community Survey

7.6 million

The total civilian noninstitutionalized population ages 18 to 64 employed with a disability in 2018.

Source: 2018 American Community Survey

$23,848

Median earnings in the past 12 months (in 2018 inflation adjusted dollars) of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and over with earnings and a disability in 2018.

Source: 2018 American Community Survey

More on Disability

• Employment Status by Disability Status and Type
• Selected Economic Characteristics for the Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population by Disability Status

More Stats

See a detailed profile on the population with a disability from the 2018 American Community Survey. Statistics include:

• Sex.
  • Race.
  • Age.

• Hearing difficulty by age.

• Vision difficulty by age.
• Cognitive difficulty by age.
• Ambulatory difficulty by age.
• Self-care difficulty by age.
• Independent living difficulty by age. 

Related News Products 

Past Facts for Features

• Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2019
• Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2018
• Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2017
• Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2016 

Blogs

• Do People With Disabilities Earn Equal Pay
• The Occupations of Workers with Disabilities
• The Age and Disability Paradox 

Graphics

• Types of Disabilities
• The Relationship Between Health Conditions and the Core Disability Question Set
• Working With a Disability (2018)
• How Common Are Specific Disabilities by Age? (2017)
• Aging-Accessible Homes (2017)
• Prevalence of Disabilities for Ages 18+ (2016) 

Related Info 

• Americans with Disabilities: 2014
• Older Americans With a Disability: 2008-2012

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