Demographics of Physical Disability in
2000
The 2000 Census asked a series of six questions to determine
disability status and type of disability. The questions appeared on the longer
version of the Census form, a sample survey asked of one in six US households.
The resulting numbers therefore apply only to the civilian, non-institutional
population.
The Census questions were considerably more detailed and complex than those
asked in the 1990 Census. For that reason, the data from the two surveys are not
comparable.
In the 2000 Census, people five years old and over are considered to have a
disability if they have one or more of the following.
- Blindness, deafness or a severe vision or hearing loss.
- A substantial limitation in the ability to perform basic physical
activities such as climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carrying.
- Difficulty learning, remembering or concentrating.
- Difficulty dressing, bathing or getting around inside the home.
In addition to the above criteria, people 16 years old and over are
considered to have a disability if they have difficulty going outside the home
alone to shop or to visit a doctor's office. People age 16-64 are also
considered to have a disability if they have difficulty working at a job or
business.
The following data for Wisconsin was prepared by Cindy Ofstead of the state
Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care Resources.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WITH ANY DISABILITY
|
Total population
sample = 4,939,875 |
| Number with any disability |
790,917 |
16.0% |
| Number with 1 disability |
445,851 |
9.0% |
| Number with 2 or more disabilities |
345,066 |
7.0% |
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES BY CATEGORY
|
Total population
sample = 4,939,875 |
| Physical disability |
338,728 |
6.9% |
| Mental disability |
209,288 |
4.2% |
| Sensory disability |
152,506 |
3.1% |
Employment disability
(asked only of those age 16-64) |
309,567 |
9.1% |
Go-outside-the-home disability
(not asked of those age 5-15) |
262,479 |
6.4% |
| Self-care disability |
103,989 |
2.1% |
Last Revised: October 24, 2008
|
