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2003 Census Data for Persons with Disabilities
The United States Census Bureau, in its recently released 2003 American Community Survey (ACS) Data Profile, breaks down “Disability Status of the Civilian Non-institutionalized Population” for every state in the Nation by State, city, county and even census tract for persons 5 years and older.

This information is very helpful in local organizing and should be used to convince local/state officials of the need for increased accessible housing, as well as for voting accessibility, employment, transportation services, SSI/SSDI, and other issues. It should be used to ask HUD to increase the percentage of accessible units above the existing 5%. The data is available on the Census’s webpage - www.census.gov, click on American Community Survey, click on 2003 Data Profile, click on you specific state, county and census tract.

For the entire United States in 2003:

Population 5 -20 years was 63.5 m of whom 4.1 m (6.3 %) had a disability.
Population 21-64 years 165.2 m of whom 19.9 m (12.0 %) had a disability.
Population 65 and over 33.9 m of whom 13.5 m (39.9%) had a disability.
Total population 5 and over was 262.6 m of whom 37.5m (14.3%) had a disability.

Even though the 2003 ACS data did not break down disabilities by either type or condition(this data will be released after September), the 2000 Census did and found 3.6% of the population had a sensory disability involving sight or hearing, 8.2 % with a condition limiting basic physical activities, e.g., walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carrying, and other 2.6% had difficulty in dressing, bathing or getting around inside the home and 8.6% had difficulty going outside the home to shop or visit a doctor.

The 2003 ACS data did provide an employment breakdown: whereas 77.5 % of the 21 - 64 population without a disability were employed, only 37.8 % of the disabled were employed.