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The Demographics of Disability

     This study was developed by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD), 415 Michigan Ave. NE, Suite 240, Washington, D.C. 20017. The first survey on how non-institutionalized people with disabilities were faring was reported in 1986 in The ICD Survey of Disabled Americans: Bringing Disabled Americans into the Mainstream.  This examination was commissioned by the U.S. National Council on Disabilities and the International Center on Disability and provided the data used by Congress in crafting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, often cited as one of our most important civil rights legislation since it covered such a large minority of citizens.  Most recently the 2000 N.O.D./Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, as well as other studies and U.S. Census Bureau reports have supported the findings of the Harris studies.

Total Number of People Defined as Disabled:
     Today census figures indicate there are 58 million people covered by the legal protections of ADA.  Various summaries indicate that 20% of the population has one or more disabilities and that approximately 10% of that number live with severe disabilities. On the basis of such studies, NCPD suggests the numbers of Catholics with disabilities in the United States exceeds fourteen million.

Who Are We Describing?
     People with disabilities are a part of every demographic classification, although they are often clustered at the outer margins of any particular category: the poorest of those in economic distress, the most unschooled of the inadequately educated, and the most commonly unemployed. Disabling conditions can add one more barrier to overcome for those already members of any other minority.  People without disabilities are over twice as likely to have graduated from high school and only one-third as likely to have an annual household income less than $15,000.  People with disabilities are three times more likely to lack adequate transportation and when it comes to health care, Americans with disabilities are over three times less likely to have received needed care on at least one occasion in the past year.  They are more than twice as likely to postpone or put off needed health care because they cannot afford it (28% versus 12%). 

     People with disabilities are less likely to socialize with friends, family and neighbors or attend religious services than their non-disabled counterparts.  They are also less likely to be seen in our supermarkets, stores and malls, movies, theaters or sporting events than those with similar needs or interests who are not disabled.  This is true even when comparing people at similar income levels.  The gap in “life satisfaction” is marked (33% versus 67%).  A 1991 study indicated one family in three has a relative with a disability. NCPD recognizes Catholics with disabilities as integral members of our inclusive church, noting that their involvement can reinforce our sense of unity in Christ. They are our brothers and sisters in the spirit as well as in the flesh.

Disabilities We Expect to Find in Environments Which are Welcoming:
     Recent strategies in accommodating and maximizing the God-given potential of individuals with a variety of disabilities focuses more upon the accommodations needed to maximize functional levels than on the clinical category into which such individuals might be placed. (One person with a given impairment might require extensive services, while another with the same label might require few or none.) The following information may be helpful in anticipating what proportions of disabilities can be expected in our welcoming parishes.

 §         Fifty-eight percent of the total disability population (8.1 million Catholics) has a physical  
          disability.

     A large percentage of individuals in this category (34%) have significant orthopedic impairments; 12% have some sort of neuromotor or muscular disabilities; 5% have brain dysfunctions and the remaining 48% have other physical limitations. These individuals will usually make use of wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches and need to find ramps, sturdy railings, non-slippery surfaces, elevators or stair glides and adequate space in which to maneuver. In one study 59% of those questioned said they do not feel awkward in dealing with people who use wheelchairs, noting they just “sit down a lot,” seeming less “different” that some people with other disabilities.

     §         Nine percent of those with disabilities (slightly less than 1.3 million Catholics) have  
           sensory disabilities.

     Blind and visually impaired persons make up slightly more that 4% of Catholics with disabilities. The majority of these individuals do not read braille and prefer printed information to be presented in large print, audiotapes or computer generated formats and appreciate having the visual elements of worship and religious programs audio-described. 90% of the general public said they felt comfortable in dealing with those in this disability category. Louis Harris surveys have found that the numbers of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing roughly matches the numbers of those with vision problems.  Best estimates seem to indicate that 15% to 20% of this group use American Sign Language (ASL) and are a part of the Deaf Culture.

     The remainder, many of whom are late on-set deafened adults, consider English (or their native language) as their primary information source and need written text, whether real time captioning, captioning of already existing materials or print scripts. There are various hearing enhancement systems which amplify sound for the hard of hearing and allow these Catholics to participate in the worship service.  To be fully accessible to this segment of our Church, ASL, real time captioning and enhanced hearing systems are desirable.

§         Four percent of those with disabilities (about 560,000 Catholics) are mentally retarded or cognitively disabled.

     The vast majority of this group is defined as moderately to mildly limited in their cognitive abilities.  We find that 3% can be classified as severely mentally retarded. Currently approximately 97% of those designated as cognitively disabled or mentally retarded are living in their communities, whether in their own homes or in group settings. Recently revised definitions are based less on I.Q. scores and more on the amount of services required to allow a given individual to live as fulfilling a life as possible. This does not limit an individual’s development and growth as appropriate learning and skill development take place.   Their grasp of the emotional life of our Faith and Christ’s love of His people can be expected to exceed their theological insights.  Only one-third of the general public said they felt comfortable around people who are cognitively disabled or mentally retarded, which means special effort needs to be made to educate people to the gifts of this segment of the disability community.

§         Five percent of those with disabilities (approximately 700,000 Catholics) are classified as mentally ill.

     Since so many people experience occasional bouts of non-clinical depression and other less severe mental illnesses, the numbers of people included in this category is difficult to assess. However, the Louis and Harris survey indicates we should anticipate at least 5% of our parishioners are experiencing some form of severe mental illness at any given time. Apparently this is the group of disabled people which most discomforts the general public. Harris found 73% felt awkward and ill at ease around those designated as mentally ill.  This group is in as much need of the support of their Faith as any other.

§         Twenty-four percent of those with disabilities (about 3.6 million Catholics) have assorted health problems which limit one or more of their daily living functions.

     Of this group, 10% have a significant heart or circulatory problem which seriously limits their activity while 11% have cancer, kidney dysfunction, diabetes, or other generally limiting conditions. 5% are limited by respiratory or pulmonary dysfunctions. Many within this group may have mobility and other limitations which require consideration when planning for their inclusion. Those with such hidden disabilities face misunderstanding and their need for accommodations may be misinterpreted as unreasonable demands for special privileges rather than reflective of legitimate need.

§         Forty percent of those with disabilities (about 6 million Catholics) report they have more than one disabling condition.

     Disabilities do not fit into neat categorical boxes and there is considerable overlap. These individuals, while more limited in some ways, can be accommodated when universal design is a part of the planning process. There are few among the fourteen million Catholics with assorted disabilities whose needs cannot be met within our parishes and organizations when we make appropriate accommodation for their inclusion. These accommodations should not be considered extraordinary, since they result from the reality that God places the gift of life into such fragile bodies.   The bishops’ 1998 statement, Welcome and Justice for Persons with Disabilities notes:

       “Costs must never be the controlling consideration limiting the welcome offered to those among us with disabilities, since provision of access to religious functions is a pastoral duty.” 

       St. Paul reminded us our differing and unique qualities are essential in building the body of Christ. The fragility of the human body results in a steady and expanding stream of survivors who have gifts to offer and needs to be met within the Catholic Church.

Attendance at Religious Services
       Half as many adults with disabilities as their non-disabled neighbors attend parish worship services (39% vs. 22%) at any time.  Even so, half of those with various physical and sensory limitations report they try to get to Mass as least once a month.  A possible reason for their limited attendance is that one-third of those with significant disabilities report that their parish does little or nothing to facilitate their participation.  Yet, many of these same people affirm their faith is important.  Eight in ten adults say their faith is very important to them.

Optimism for the Future:
       A reality suggested by the data collected in 2000: People with disabilities are much less optimistic about any improvement in next four years in their quality of lives than people without disabilities.  This is particularly sad, since it was hoped that the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 would improve their lives significantly.  Their connection to the healing which results from inclusion within our parishes is of great importance in improving their sense of joy and satisfaction.  For: “In the center of the Eucharist stands the vulnerable Jesus, and that means that in the center of liturgical life, those who are most vulnerable belong.”

                                                                                                “The Wounded Healer”                                                                                                  Fr. Henri Nouwen

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     The following surveys conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc. as well as calculations based on the U. S. Population Clock and Disability Tables developed by the International Center for Disability Information were used in preparing this report:

§         The ICD Survey of Disabled Americans: Bringing Disabled Americans into the Mainstream, Funded by the International Center on Disability in cooperation with the National Council on the Handicapped, Conducted by Louis Harris and Associates, Inc., 1986.

§         Participation by Disabled Americans in the Religious Life of Their Communities, Funded by the National Organization on Disability (NOD), Conducted by Louis Harris, June-July 1987.

§         Public Attitudes Toward People with Disabilities, Conducted for NOD, May-June, 1991.

§         NOD/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, July, 1994.

§         The N.O.D./Harris Survey on Employment of People with Disabilities, July 1995.   

§         The 1998 N.O.D./Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, June, 1998.

§         2000 N.O.D./Harris Community Participation Study, April, 2000.

§         2000 N.O.D./Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, Sponsored by Aetna, Inc. and the JM Foundation, June 2000.

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      This article appeared in Our Sunday Visitor’s The Priest Magazine, June, 2002.

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