Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2025
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law by then-President George H.W. Bush in 1990, is the nation’s strongest measure protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities. It bars discrimination based on disability and guarantees equal access to public buildings and businesses, employment opportunities, transportation, telecommunications, commercial facilities, and state and local government services.
The following facts are possible thanks to the invaluable responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we measure America’s people and economy.
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44.7 million or 13.6%
The total U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability in 2023.
Source:
19.5%
The percentage of West Virginia’s civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability in 2023, the highest share of any state in the nation. New Jersey and Utah, both at 10.9%, had two of the nation’s lowest rates of disability.
Source:
10.2 million
The total U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population ages 18 to 64 with a disability employed in 2023.
Source:
$32,149
Median earnings (in 2023 inflation-adjusted dollars) of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population ages 16 and over with a disability and with earnings during the previous 12 months in 2023.
Source:
More on Disability
More Stats
The 2023 American Community Survey 1-year estimates provided a detailed profile of the U.S. population with a disability. Statistics include:
- Sex.
- Race and Hispanic or Latino origin.
- 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.
Related News Products
Past Facts for Features
- Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2024
- Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2023
- Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2022
- Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2021
- Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2020
America Counts Stories
- Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Disability by Health Condition
- Disability Rates Higher in Rural Areas Than Urban Areas
- U.S. Childhood Disability Rate Up in 2019 From 2008
- Do People With Disabilities Earn Equal Pay?
Blogs
Graphics
- Disability Status by Age Group
- Types of Disabilities
- The Relationship Between Health Conditions and the Core Disability Question Set
- Working With a Disability
- How Common Are Specific Disabilities by Age?
- Aging-Accessible Homes
- Prevalence of Disabilities for Ages 18+
- Business Owners With a Disability by Minority Status: 2021
Related Information
- Trends in Veteran Disability Status and Service-Connected Disability: 2008-2022
- Aging Veterans: America’s Veterans in Later Life
- A Profile of Supplemental Security Income Recipients: 2017
- Childhood Disability in the United States: 2019
- Americans with Disabilities: 2014
- Older Americans With a Disability: 2008-2012
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The following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series:
Black (African American) History Month (February)
Women's History Month (March)
Irish-American Heritage Month (March)
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)
The Fourth of July (July 4)
Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act (July 26)
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
Halloween (Oct. 31)
American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)
Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
Thanksgiving Day/Holiday Season (November-December)
Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; or e-mail: 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 below, visit our Stats for Stories web page.
Profile America's Stats for Stories provides links to timely story ideas highlighting the Census Bureau's newsworthy 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 respective audiences.