Earlier this year the U.S. Census Bureau issued a briefing entitled 'Disability Status: 2000' that summarizes the findings of the questions relating to disability included in the 2000 Census. The briefing features information - by race and origin - about the 49.7 million people in the United States who have a disability, and statistics on disability and employment. The numbers show the increased instance of disability among Latinos and decreased percentages of people with disabilities who are employed.

The two questions and related subparts that were part of the 2000 Census have been reproduced below.

1. Does this person have any of the following long-lasting conditions:
   1. Blindness, deafness, or a severe vision or hearing impairment?
   2. A condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carrying?
2. Because of a physical, mental or emotional condition lasting 6 months or more, does this person have any difficulty in doing any of the following activities?
   1. Learning, remembering, or concentrating?
   2. Dressing, bathing or getting around inside the home?
   3. (Answer if this person is 16 years OLD OR OVER.) Going outside the home alone to shop or visit a doctor's office?
   4. (Answer if this person is 16 YEARS OLD OR OVER.) Working at a job or business?

Disabled Latinos

The Census showed there are approximately 31 million Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. The overall disability rate among Latinos/Hispanics aged five and older is 20.9 percent. Using these approximations, there are about 6.2 million Latinos/Hispanics in the United States who have a disability.

Hispanic/Latinos' overall disability rate was higher than that of non-Hispanic Whites (20.9 and 18.9 percent respectively), and the disability rates for Hispanics/Latinos of working age and older exceeded the rates for non-Hispanic Whites (48.5 and 40.4 percent respectively).

People between the ages of 16 and 64 were less likely to be employed if they had a disability, according to the Census. Only 60.1 percent of working-age men with a disability were employed, while 79.9 percent of men without a disability were employed. The statistics about women were similar. Approximately 51.3 percent of working-age women with disabilities were employed, and 67.3 percent of women without a disability were employed.

printer friendly format