Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2022

Press Release Number: CB22-FF.07

On July 26, 1990, then-President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans With Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodations, commercial facilities, telecommunications and state and local government services.

This Facts for Features provides a demographic snapshot of the U.S. population with a disability and examines various services available to it. The statistics come from various U.S. Census Bureau censuses and surveys covering different periods of time.

The following facts are possible thanks to responses to the Census Bureau’s surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we continuously measure America’s people, places and economy.  

Did You Know?

40.8 million or 12.7%  

The total U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability during the five-year period from 2016-2020. 

Source:

19.3% 

The percentage of West Virginia’s civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability during the five-year period from 2016-2020, the highest share of any state in the nation. Utah, at 9.7%, had the lowest share. 

Source:

7.7 million

The total U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population ages 18 to 64 with a disability employed from 2016-2020. 

Source:

$25,162

Median earnings (in 2020 inflation-adjusted dollars) of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population ages 16 and over with a disability during the previous 12 months from 2016-2020. 

Source:

More on Disability

More Stats

A detailed profile of the U.S. population with a disability is available from the 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Statistics include:

  • Sex.
  • Race.
  • Age.
  • Hearing difficulty by age.
  • Vision difficulty by age.
  • Cognitive difficulty by age.
  • Ambulatory difficulty by age.
  • Self-care difficulty by age.
  •  Independent living difficulty by age.

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Related Information

Observances in our Facts for Features series:

  • National Black History Month (February)
  • Women's History Month (March)
  • Irish-American Heritage Month (March)
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May)
  • The Fourth of July
  • Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act (July 26)
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15)
  • Halloween (Oct. 31)
  • National Native American Heritage Month (November)
  • Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
  • Holiday Season (November — December)

Editor’s note: These data come from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. We generally release Facts for Features about two months before observances to accommodate magazine production timelines. For more information, contact the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office at (301)763-3030 or <pio@census.gov>.

Profile America's Facts for Features provides statistics related to observances and holidays not covered by Stats for Stories. For observances not listed above, visit our Stats for Stories webpage.

Stats for Stories provides links to timely story ideas highlighting newsworthy Census Bureau statistics that relate to current events, observances, holidays and anniversaries. The story ideas are intended to assist the media in story mining and producing content for their audiences. Dates with presidential proclamations are marked with (P).

Page Last Revised - April 4, 2024