NYAPRS Note: The following excerpt comes courtesy of our friend NYSILC’s Brad Williams.
The New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) conducted a statewide needs assessment in 2012. What it revealed was alarming. It showed several unacceptable trends for New Yorkers with disabilities, none of which seem to be on anyone’s agenda to address. And these trends are not isolated to New York. The major gaps are taken from the Annual Disability Compendium and apply to every state and the country.
Percentages vary but are within the same range.
- The employment rate for New Yorkers with disabilities (ages 18-64) is a mere 31.3%. This means only 31 out of 100 New Yorkers living with disabilities are employed! In NYS there is a 40.8% gap between those with and without disabilities who are employable. (http://disabilitycompendium.org/compendium-statistics/employment/2-1-civilians-with-disabilities-ages-18-64-years-living-in-the-community-for-the-u-s-).
- The poverty rate for New Yorkers with disabilities (ages 18-64) is an astounding 30.2% – more than twice that of persons in the State without a disability. (http://disabilitycompendium.org/compendium-statistics/poverty/4-1-poverty-civilians-with-disabilities-ages-18-64-years-living-in-the-community-for-the-u-s-).
- The median earnings for New Yorkers with disabilities (16 or older) are $11,769 less compared for a person without a disability. (http://disabilitycompendium.org/compendium-statistics/earnings/5-1-median-earnings-of-civilians-16-years-and-over-in-the-past-12-months-for-the-u-s-).
- The obesity rate for New Yorkers with disabilities (ages 18 and older) is 34.9%, resulting in a gap of 13.7% compared to adults without disabilities in the State.
http://nysilc.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/coming-face-to-face-with-the-bogeyman-by-brad-williams/