25th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act: July 26

 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.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of this law’s enactment, this edition of the 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 Census Bureau censuses and surveys, covering differing periods of time.

Population Distribution

56.7 million

Number of people in the United States in 2010 with a disability, according to the Survey of Income and Program Participation. People with disabilities represented 19 percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. People with a disability have a physical or mental impairment that affects one or more major life activities, such as walking, bathing, dressing, eating, preparing meals, going outside the home or doing housework. A disability can occur at birth or at any point in a person’s life. Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p70-131.pdf>

15.7 million

According to data collected from the American Community Survey from 2008 to 2012, the number of people 65 and older — 39 percent of the population in this age group — with at least one disability. Of this group, two-thirds had difficulty in walking or climbing. The second-most cited disability was difficulty with independent living, such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping. Source: Older Americans With a Disability: 2008-2012

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act: July 26

n July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed 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.

Population Distribution

56.7 million

Number of people in the United States in 2010 with a disability. People with disabilities  represented 19 percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Persons with a disability have a physical or mental impairment that affects one or more major life activities, such as walking, bathing, dressing, eating, preparing meals, going outside the home, or doing housework. A disability can occur at birth or at any point in a person’s life.

By age —

• 8 percent of children under 15 had a disability.

• 21 percent of people 15 and older had a disability.

• 17 percent of people 21 to 64 had a disability.

• 50 percent of adults 65 and older had a disability.

Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010 

2012pubs/p70-131.pdf>

20%

Percentage of females with a disability, compared with 17 percent of males.

Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010 

<http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p70-131.pdf>

Where They Live

19%

Percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized population in West Virginia with a disability ─ the highest rate of any state in the nation. Utah, at 9 percent, had the lowest rate.

Source: 2012 American Community Survey, Table R1810

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_12_1YR_R1810.US01PRF&prodType=table>

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act: July 26

This week marks the 23rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities in public accommodations, commercial facilities, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications.

Population Distribution

56.7 million
Number of people with a disability living in the United States in 2010. They represented 19 percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Disabilities include, for instance, having difficulty seeing, hearing, having speech understood, walking, bathing, dressing, eating, preparing meals, going outside the home, or doing housework, having Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, cerebral palsy, or dyslexia, and being frequently depressed or anxious.
By age —
• 8 percent of children under 15 had disabilities.
• 21 percent of people 15 and older had disabilities.
• 17 percent of people 21 to 64 had disabilities.
• 50 percent of adults 65 and older had disabilities.
Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010
20%
Percentage of females with a disability, compared with 17 percent of males.

Where They Live
19%
Percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized population in West Virginia with a disability ─ the highest rate of any state in the nation. Utah, at 9 percent, had the lowest rate. Source: 2011 American Community Survey, Table R1810

Specific Disabilities
7.6 million
Number of people 15 and older who had a hearing difficulty. Among people 65 and older, 4 million had difficulty hearing. Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010
8.1 million
Number of people 15 and older with a vision difficulty. Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010
30.6 million
Number of people 15 and older who had difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010
3.6 million
Number of people 15 and older who used a wheelchair to assist with mobility. This compares with 11.6 million people who used a cane, crutches or walker. Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010
2.4 million
Number of people 15 and older who had Alzheimer’s disease, senility or dementia. Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010
12.0 million
Number of people 15 and older who required the assistance of others in order to perform one or more activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, doing housework, and preparing meals.Source: Americans with Disabilities: 2010

On the Job
33%
Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population 18 to 64 with a disability who were employed. Source: 2011 American Community Survey, Table B18120
53%
Percentage of the civilian labor force with a disability who worked as either service workers (except protective services), with 18.2 percent, administrative support (15.1 percent), sales workers (10.4 percent) and management, business and finance (8.9 percent). Source: Disability Employment Tabulation, from 2008-2010 American Community Survey
315,000
The number of janitors and building cleaners with a disability ─ the most common occupation for people with disabilities. Among occupations with 100,000 or more people, dishwashers had the highest disability rate, with 14.3 percent. Source: Disability Employment Tabulation, from 2008-2010 American Community Survey

Earnings and Poverty

$19,735
Median earnings in the past 12 months for people with a disability. This compares with $30,285 for those without a disability. Source: 2011 American Community Survey, Table B18140
323,000
Number of employed people with disabilities earning $100,000 or more annually. This amounts to 4 percent of all people with disabilities who were employed, compared with 8 percent of people without a disability who were employed. Source: Disability Employment Tabulation, from 2008-2010 American Community Survey, Table Set 7A
23%
Percentage of people with a disability who were in poverty. By comparison, those without a disability had a poverty rate of 15 percent. Source: 2011 American Community Survey, Table B18130

Government Assistance

30%
Among people who received income-based government assistance, the percentage who had a disability; 18 percent of assistance recipients had difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Source: Disability Characteristics of Income-Based Government Assistance Recipients in the United States: 2011(from American Community Survey)
57%
Percentage of assistance recipients with a disability who received only in-kind assistance. By comparison, 2 percent received cash assistance only and 41 percent received both kinds. Source: Disability Characteristics of Income-Based Government Assistance Recipients in the United States: 2011 (from American Community Survey)
58%
Among people who received both cash and in-kind assistance, the percentage who had a disability. Source: Disability Characteristics of Income-Based Government Assistance Recipients in the United States: 2011 (from American Community Survey)
42%
The percentage of income-based assistance recipients in West Virginia who had a disability, which led all states. Arizona ranked the lowest, at 25 percent. Source: Disability Characteristics of Income-Based Government Assistance Recipients in the United States: 2011 (from American Community Survey)

Health Insurance

10%
Percentage of people with a disability who lacked health insurance. Those without a disability were more likely to be without coverage (16 percent). Source: 2011 American Community Survey, Table B18135

30 Percent of Adults Receiving Government Assistance Have a Disability

Among the 46.0 million adults who received income-based government assistance in 2011, 30.4 percent of them had a disability, according to a report released from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The report, Disability Characteristics of Income-Based Government Assistance Recipients in the United States: 2011, offers information about the occurrence of disabilities among people 18 and older who received income-based government assistance. The information is based on data from the 2011 American Community Survey.

"On average, people with disabilities have lower employment and earnings; therefore, understanding what assistance people with disabilities receive may help governments better coordinate and administer their programs,” said Bernice Boursiquot, a Census Bureau statistician and co-author of the report.

People with a disability include those having vision, hearing, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care or independent living difficulties. Among recipients of public assistance, 18.2 percent had difficulty walking or climbing stairs, 14.6 percent had trouble leaving home to go shopping or visit the doctor without assistance, and 14.2 percent encountered trouble with memory, concentration, or making decisions.

Recipients received assistance in three forms: cash assistance (cash or money income), in-kind assistance (services, goods or vouchers) or both cash and in-kind assistance. Among people who received both cash and in-kind assistance, 58.3 percent had a disability. Among recipients of only cash assistance, 33.2 percent had a disability. Recipients of only in-kind benefits had the lowest disability rate at 22.6 percent.

This report also found that 22 states had disability rates above the national estimate of 30.4 percent among those receiving assistance. In comparison, 15 states had rates below the national estimate.

States west of the Appalachian Mountains had higher rates of disability among recipients of income-based assistance. In comparison, states in the Southwest and along the Eastern Seaboard had lower rates.

West Virginia, Kentucky and Arkansas were three of the top five states for disability prevalence in the total population, as well as in the total population receiving government assistance. In West Virginia, 26.8 percent of people with disabilities reported having ambulatory difficulty, defined as severe difficulties walking or climbing stairs.

Americans With Disabilities: 2010

From the Census Bureau

The population of people with disabilities inhabit a distinct position in the U.S. economy, both for their contributions to the marketplace and roles in government policies and programs. People with disabilities bring unique sets of skills to the workplace, enhancing the strength and diversity of the U.S. labor market.1 In addition, they make up a significant market of consumers, representing more than $200 billion in discretionary spending and spurring technological innovation and entrepreneurship.2 People with disabilities also often rely on various government interventions to maintain their participation in the community. Federal programs like Social Security and Medicare and more than 60 smaller federal and state programs provide a wide array of income, health care, and other support services to individuals with disabilities across the United States. In 2008, the federal government spent an estimated $357 billion dollars on programs for working-age people with disabilities, representing 12 percent of total federal outlays.3 While there is little doubt about the large economic impact of people with disabilities, estimates of the size and characteristics of this population depend much on the definitions used to classify what it means to be disabled.

Nearly 1 in 5 People Have a Disability in the U.S.

About 56.7 million people ─ 19 percent of the population ─ had a disability in 2010, according to a broad definition of disability, with more than half of them reporting the disability was severe, according to a comprehensive report on this population released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The report, Americans with Disabilities: 2010, presents estimates of disability status and type and is the first such report with analysis since the Census Bureau published statistics in a similar report about the 2005 population of people with disabilities. According to the report, the total number of people with a disability increased by 2.2 million over the period, but the percentage remained statistically unchanged. Both the number and percentage with a severe disability rose, however. Likewise, the number and percentage needing assistance also both increased.

“This week, we observe the 22nd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, a milestone law that guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities,” said Census Bureau demographer Matthew Brault. “On this important anniversary, this report presents a barometer of the well-being of this population in areas such as employment, income and poverty status.”

The statistics come from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, which contains supplemental questions on whether respondents had difficulty performing a specific set of functional and participatory activities. For many activities, if a respondent reported difficulty, a follow-up question was asked to determine the severity of the limitation, hence, the distinction between a “severe” and “nonsevere” disability. The data were collected from May through August 2010. Disability statistics from this survey are used by agencies — such as the Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Administration on Aging — to assist with program planning and management.

The report shows that 41 percent of those age 21 to 64 with any disability were employed, compared with 79 percent of those with no disability. Along with the lower likelihood of having a job came the higher likelihood of experiencing persistent poverty; that is, continuous poverty over a 24-month period. Among people age 15 to 64 with severe disabilities, 10.8 percent experienced persistent poverty; the same was true for 4.9 percent of those with a nonsevere disability and 3.8 percent of those with no disability.

Other highlights:
-- People in the oldest age group ─ 80 and older ─ were about eight times more likely to have a disability as those in the youngest group ─ younger than 15 (71 percent compared with 8 percent). The probability of having a severe disability is only one in 20 for those 15 to 24 while it is one in four for those 65 to 69.
-- About 8.1 million people had difficulty seeing, including 2.0 million who were blind or unable to see.
-- About 7.6 million people experienced difficulty hearing, including 1.1 million whose difficulty was severe. About 5.6 million used a hearing aid.
-- Roughly 30.6 million had difficulty walking or climbing stairs, or used a wheelchair, cane, crutches or walker.
-- About 19.9 million people had difficulty lifting and grasping. This includes, for instance, trouble lifting an object like a bag of groceries, or grasping a glass or a pencil.
-- Difficulty with at least one activity of daily living was cited by 9.4 million
non-institutionalized adults. These activities included getting around inside the home, bathing, dressing and eating. Of these people, 5 million needed the assistance of others to perform such an activity.
-- About 15.5 million adults had difficulties with one or more instrumental activities of daily living. These activities included doing housework, using the phone and preparing meals. Of these, nearly 12 million required assistance.
-- Approximately 2.4 million had Alzheimer’s disease, senility or dementia.
-- Being frequently depressed or anxious such that it interfered with ordinary activities was reported by 7.0 million adults.
-- Adults age 21 to 64 with disabilities had median monthly earnings of $1,961 compared with $2,724 for those with no disability.
-- Overall, the uninsured rates for adults 15 to 64 were not statistically different by disability status: 21.0 percent for people with severe disabilities, 21.3 percent for those with non-severe disabilities and 21.9 percent for those with no disability.

In addition to the statistics from this report, the Census Bureau also produces annual disability estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). While the ACS uses a different definition of disability than in this report, it is capable of producing estimates of the population with disabilities at sub-national geographies like states, counties, places and metropolitan areas. The Census Bureau has been collecting data about certain disabilities since 1830, when Congress added questions to the census on difficulty hearing, seeing and speaking.

What is a "common wheelchair?"

Section 37.3 of the DOT’s regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) (49 CFR Parts 27, 37, and 38) defines a "common wheelchair" as a mobility aid belonging to any class of three or four-wheeled devices, usable indoors, designed for and used by individuals with mobility impairments, whether operated manually or powered. A "common wheelchair" does not exceed 30 inches in width and 48 inches in length measured two inches above the ground, and does not weigh more than 600 pounds when occupied.

Is an electric scooter or other mobility device a common wheelchair?

If an electric scooter or other mobility device meets the physical specifications of a common wheelchair as defined by the DOT’s ADA regulations, it must be treated as a common wheelchair.

May a transit operator require common wheelchairs be secured to the vehicle?

Yes, provided that the transit operator has established such a policy. Section 37.165(c)(3) of the DOT’s ADA regulations allows a transit operator to establish a policy that requires all riders to have their common wheelchairs secured while aboard a transit vehicle. Therefore, the operator may decline to provide service to a rider who refuses to allow his or her common wheelchair to be secured. Alternatively, transit operators may adopt a policy that allows common wheelchairs to ride unsecured. If the rider wishes his or her wheelchair to be secured, however, the operator’s personnel must provide the requested assistance.

What kinds of securement equipment must be provided?

Section 38.23(d) of the DOT’s ADA regulations requires all ADA-compliant vehicles to have a two-part securement system, one to secure the common wheelchair, and a seatbelt and shoulder harness for the wheelchair user. Section 38.23(a) requires vehicles over 22 feet in length to have enough securement locations and devices to secure two common wheelchairs, while vehicles 22 feet and under must be able to accommodate at least one common wheelchair.

May a transit operator deny boarding to a rider whose common wheelchair is difficult to secure?

No. If the transit operator has a policy that requires securement, or if a rider asks that the wheelchair be secured, Section 37.165(f) of the DOT’s ADA regulations requires transit personnel to use their best efforts to secure any mobility device that meets the regulatory definition of a common wheelchair. Section 37.165(d) states that transit operators cannot refuse to accommodate a common wheelchair – including a scooter or other specialized mobility device that complies with the ADA regulation’s specifications -- because the wheelchair cannot be secured to the driver’s satisfaction. Given the diversity of "common" wheelchairs, transit operators should consult with the manufacturers of securement devices and wheelchairs, as well as the owner of the wheelchair, to determine the best means of securement.

Does a wheelchair user have to use the seatbelt and shoulder harness?

Under the broad non-discrimination provisions in Section 37.5 of the DOT’s ADA regulations, a transit operator is not permitted to mandate the use by wheelchair users of seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, unless the operator mandates the use of these devices by all passengers, including those sitting in vehicle seats. For example, on fixed route buses, if none of the other passengers are required to wear shoulder belts then neither can the person in the mobility device be required to do so.Transit operators may establish a policy that requires the seatbelt and shoulder harness to be used by all riders, including those who use wheelchairs as well as those who use vehicle seats, if seatbelts and shoulder harnesses are provided at all seating locations. In some cases, state law could require an operator to adopt such a policy.

What kind of services must transit personnel provide?

Because safe and nondiscriminatory transportation is the responsibility of the transit operator, Section 37.173 of the DOT’s ADA regulations requires transit operators to train their personnel to properly assist and treat individuals with disabilities with sensitivity, and to operate vehicles and equipment safely. This includes training personnel to use the accessibility equipment and to accommodate the different types of common wheelchairs. Attendant-type services (e.g., carrying passengers, personal baggage, or suitcases) are not required, but assistance with boarding and disembarking, including pushing a manual wheelchair up a particularly steep ramp, is required.

What if the accessibility equipment is missing or not working?

Section 37.161 of the DOT’s ADA regulations requires transit operators to maintain and repair the accessibility equipment. Section 37.163 requires public transit operators to establish a schedule or system to ensure regular and frequent maintenance checks and to take a vehicle out of service to repair or replace any broken or missing equipment before returning the vehicle to service. In some instances, a transit operator must provide alternative accessible transportation if the accessibility equipment is not present or not working.

Does a common wheelchair need brakes in order to use public transit?

No. The DOT ADA regulations’ definition of a common wheelchair does not include a requirement for brakes or any other equipment. A transit operator may not deny transportation to a wheelchair user because the wheelchair does not have brakes or the user does not choose to set the brakes.

Can an operator refuse to carry a person with a disability, especially a person using an electric scooter that meets the definition of a "common wheelchair," because of higher insurance rates or liability concerns?

No. Section 37.5(g) of the DOT’s ADA regulations prohibits an operator from denying service to an individual with a disability because its insurance company conditions coverage or rates on the absence of individuals with disabilities or persons who use common wheelchairs.

Can a transit operator require a person to transfer from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat?

No. Section 37.165(e) of the DOT’s ADA regulations allows persons who use wheelchairs to transfer to a vehicle seat, if one is available. Such a move is the rider’s decision and the transit operator cannot force a rider to transfer to a vehicle seat, although the transit operator can suggest a transfer in a non-coercive way.For more information on this and other topics related to the ADA and public transit, contact:
Federal Transit Administration
Office of Civil Rights
East Building – 5th Floor, TCR
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act: July 26

This day marks the 21st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities in public accommodations, commercial facilities, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications.

Population Distribution

36 million
Number of people who have a disability. They represent 12 percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

By age —

-- 5 percent of children 5 to 17 have disabilities.
-- 10 percent of people 18 to 64 have disabilities.
-- 37 percent of adults 65 and older have disabilities.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

12.3%
Percentage of females with a disability, compared with 11.6 percent of males.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

18.8%
Percentage of people with a disability in West Virginia, highest of all states. Utah has the lowest with 8.9 percent of its residents reporting a disability.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey


Specific Disabilities

10.2 million
Number of people who have a hearing difficulty. Of these, 5.8 million are 65 and older.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

6.5 million
Number of people with a vision difficulty.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

13.5 million
Number of people 5 and older who have difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions. Of these, 2.1 million are children
5 to 17 years of age.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

19.4 million
Number of people 5 and older who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey


On the Job

6%
Percentage of disabled workers 16 and older who use public transportation to commute to work. In addition, 70 percent of people with a
disability drive alone, 13 percent carpool, 4 percent walk and 3 percent use a taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle or other means.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

22%
Percentage of disabled workers 16 and older who work in the educational services and health care and social assistance industries, the
highest of any industry.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey


Income and Poverty

21%
Percent of the population age 16 and older with a disability that are below the poverty level. Eleven percent of the population age 16 and
older without a disability are below the poverty level.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

72%
Percentage of disabled people 16 and older who are not in the labor force. Twenty-seven percent of people without a disability are not in the labor force.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

$18,865
Median earnings of the population age 16 and older with a disability, this compares with $28,983 for the population without a disability.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey


Serving Our Nation

$35.3 billion
Amount of compensation veterans received for service-connected disabilities in fiscal year 2008.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2011, Table 521


Education

28%
Percentage of people 25 and older with a disability who have less than a high school graduate education. This compares with 12 percent
for those with no disability.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

13%
Percentage of people 25 and older with a disability who have a bachelor's degree or higher. This compares with 31 percent for
those with no disability.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey

Persons with a Disability: Labor Force Statistics - 2010

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics [PDF]

The proportion of the population employed in 2010—the employment-population ratio—was 18.6 percent among those with a disability, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The employment-population ratio for persons without a disability was 63.5 percent. The ratios in 2010 for both persons with and without a disability were lower than those recorded in 2009. The unemployment rate of persons with a disability was 14.8 percent in 2010, higher than the rate for those with no disability, which was 9.4 percent.
The data on persons with a disability are collected as part of the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly sample survey of about 60,000 households that provides statistics on employment and unemployment in the United States. The collection of data on persons with a disability is sponsored by
the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Also: Students with Disabilities at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions from National Center for Education Statistics.

ADA Turns 20

The US Department is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act this week. I find this to be exciting; at the same time, it seems as though some people seem to find ADA difficult and punitive. While I'm sure that one can find bad outcomes of good intentions in any bureaucracy, the core message of the Act is to make goods and services more accessible to a population that is nearly one in five Americans, and growing.


As the Reaching Out to Customers with Disabilities section indicates that "The ADA asks public accommodations to take steps that are 'readily achievable' or are 'reasonable' or that do not constitute an 'undue burden' to enable people with disabilities to be their customers and clients."

I was at a business conference a few years ago, and a representative laid out some examples about how a business could become more customer friendly. A dry cleaner had a three-step walk up to the entrance. Not only would a ramp been expensive, it would not have been practical, because the angle would have been too steep. The solution: setting up a buzzer at the bottom of the stairs for an employee to come out to the customer and pick up or deliver the dry cleaning.

I was struck by the conversation I had with someone at my former church. There was a debate before I had gotten there as to whether they should build a ramp. Some folks indicated that there were no current parishioners who needed a ramp. The response: "Yes, and if we don't build the ramp, we never will." Subsequently, folks with walkers and wheelchairs and others for whom the few steps were a burden have made good use of that ramp.

Accessibility is not just a matter of "fairness" or "justice"; it's good business sense.
***
Info about the Disability website and blog; the latter features some great stories.

Countdown to the 20th Anniversary of the ADA

While Disability.gov is useful in connecting "the Disability Community to Information and Opportunities", it has been its Disability Blog, about the "latest disability news, information and trends", that has been most intriguing.

In anticipation of the countdown to the anniversary of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act this week, several guest bloggers have written personal essays about how the ADA has literally changed their lives for the better.

Prevalence, Most Common Causes of Disability Among Adults in the US, 2005

From the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (CDC):

This analysis determined that the estimated percentage of U.S. adults reporting a disability has not changed since 1999, when, using the same survey and definitions, 22.0% of adults reported having a disability. Reasons for this leveling off likely include a better educated public, improved medical interventions, increased public health attention to behavior modifications (e.g., tobacco use), and increased access to assistive technology among the most advantaged socioeconomic groups.

Although the percentage has not changed, this analysis and other studies have determined that the absolute number of persons in the U.S. population reporting disabilities is increasing because of a rise in the at-risk population.

Census in Schools Educator Update, June 2007

From our friends at the Census Bureau:

Welcome to the Census in Schools Educator Update - providing you with the latest news from the U.S. Census Bureau. In This Issue:

1. Minority Population Tops 100 Million
2. Hurricane Season and Census Facts
3. Hurricane Data and Emergency Preparedness
4. Historical Data and Coastal Area Teaching Suggestion
5. Facts for Features
6. Contact Us

1. Minority Population Tops 100 Million
The nation’s minority population reached 100.7 million on July 1, 2006,according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates by race, Hispanic origin, sex, and age. California had a minority population of 20.7 million on July 1, 2006, 21 percent of the nation’s total; while Texas had a minority population of 12.2 million, 12 percent of the total. For a historical perspective, the total U.S. population reached 100 million in 1915. Last October, the Census Bureau reported that the overall population had topped 300 million.

Other highlights include:

Hispanic
The Hispanic population has remained the largest minority group with 44.3 million people. Hispanics accounted for almost half (1.4 million) of the national population growth of 2.9 million between July 2005 and July 2006.
Black
The second largest minority group is the black population at 40.2 million,achieving an increase of 1.3 percent, or 522,000 people, between 2005 and 2006.
Asian
The Asian population saw an increase to 14.9 million. After Hispanics,Asians are the second fastest growing minority population, with a 3.2 percent increase between 2005 and 2006.
American Indian and Alaska Native
The American Indian and Alaska Native population rose by 1 percent to 4.5 million from 2005.
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander The Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander population hit the one million mark in 2006, with a 1.7 percent increase since 2005.

For more information, visit here.

2. Hurricane Season and Census Facts

The north Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through November. The U.S. Census Bureau produces timely local data that are critical to emergency planning, preparedness, and recovery efforts. The following facts spotlight the number of people living in areas that could be most affected by these acts of nature.

In Harm’s Way

34.9 million - Estimated July 1, 2006, population most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes: the coastal portion of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Twelve percent of the nation’s population lived in these areas.
24.8 million - Number of people added to the Atlantic and Gulf coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas between 1950 and 2006. Florida alone was responsible for the bulk of this increase (almost 15 million).
Florida -17.6 million - Estimated 2006 coastal population of Florida, accounting for half of the coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Among the Sunshine State’s coastal population, 10.5 million lived along the Atlantic and 7.1 million along the Gulf.
352 people per square mile - The 2006 population density of Florida’s coastal areas, which leads the entire area between North Carolina and Texas in coastal population density.

Hurricanes Past
38,000 - Population of Galveston, Texas, at the time of the city’s "Great Storm" on Sept. 8, 1900, that killed more than 8,000 people. At that time, Galveston, Dallas and Houston had similar populations.
223,388 - Estimated population of New Orleans on July 1, 2006 — less than one year after Hurricane Katrina struck. The city’s population was down
50.6 percent from a year earlier.

3. Hurricane Data and Emergency Preparedness

Interested in characteristics (economy, housing, people, maps) of areas impacted by hurricanes Rita, Wilma and Katrina in 2006? Visit the Census Bureau home page and click on Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness.

The Census Bureau helps local leaders use census data to prepare for and recover from emergencies in their communities. Special population estimates provide a before and after look at the population of the impacted area and before and after characteristics of the population and housing.

4. Historical Data and Coastal Area Teaching Suggestion

The Census Bureau Web site contains many links that teachers can use to develop ideas for lessons. One area of the site provides historical census population and housing counts for the United States, states, regions and divisions, metropolitan areas, large cities, and coastal regions. Teachers and students can mine data, evaluate information, and apply ideas by comparing and contrasting, mapping, graphing, and charting information.

Using the chart on the attached PDF, create a line graph showing the Atlantic and Gulf Area coastal populations between 1960 and 2005 and the total U.S. population for the same years. Describe the rate of change of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast population compared with the total U.S. population.

Twelve percent of the U.S. population currently resides in the coastal counties from North Carolina to Texas. Use the chart to calculate the percentage that resided in these coastal counties from 1960 to 2005.
Describe how the portion of the U.S. population residing in these areas has changed.

The table above shows how many states have coastal counties. Click on graphic and "open link".

To visit the historical section of the Census Bureau’s Web site go to www.census.gov, click on "People and Households" and click on Historical Census Data.

5. Facts for Features

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26) — In observance of the 17th anniversary of the enactment of this ground breaking law, statistical information from the Census Bureau’s demographic subject areas about people with disabilities.

To see the latest facts, visit here

6. Contact Us

If you have questions or comments about Census in Schools, please call Kim Crews or Vicki Glasier at 301-763-3626 or e-mail: pio.census.in.schools@census.gov.