Centerforindependenceofthedisabled,Newyork

CenterforIndependenceoftheDisabled,NewYork

ADAat25:

ManyBridgestoCross

SusanM.Dooha,J.D.

Data preparedfor CIDNYby

DebraBrucker,Ph.D.andNicholasRollins,M.S.UniversityofNewHampshireInstituteonDisability

Manhattan

841 Broadway, Suite301NewYork, NY 10003212/674-2300(tel)

212/254-5953(fax)

646/350-2681(VP)

Queens

80-02KewGardensRdSuite107

KewGardens,NY11415646/442-1520(tel)

347/561-4883(fax)

347/905-5088(VP)

AUnitedWayAgency

Forward

Disabilitiesareanormalpartoflife.Havingadisabilityissomethingmostofuscanlookforwardtoasapartofbirth,accident,disease,environmentalhazardorsimplytheprocessofaging.Peoplewithdisabilitiesareyoungandold.Weareofallracesandethnicities. Weliveineverycommunity.Ourdisabilitiesmaybeevidentorinvisible.Weareaheterogeneouscommunity—butwhatwehaveincommonisthatweexperiencebarriers,physical,communications-relatedorattitudinal,thatimpedeouraccesstowhatlifehastooffer.

Sometimestheverylawsandinstitutionsthataredesignedtohelpusareanimpedimenttoourprogress.

Segregationandexclusionofpeoplewithdisabilitieshavecontributedtogrossinequalities.Peoplewithdisabilitiesexperiencelowereducationalattainment,lowerlevelsofemploymentandwages,greatersocialisolation,worsehealthoutcomesandgreaterlevelsofpovertythantheirnondisabledcounterparts.Theseoutcomesarenotaninevitableresultofdisabilities,theyaretheresultoflegalandsocialbarriersthathaveyettoberemoved.Itisineveryone’sinteresttotakedownthesebarriers.

TheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)passedtwenty-fiveyearsagotochangethepervasivepatternofdiscriminationinoursociety.Itwasbroughtaboutbycommunityorganizing,coalitionefforts,civildisobedience,litigation,settlements,negotiation,publiceducation,andlegislativestrategy.Wenowlookbackandaheadtoseebothhowfarwehavecomeandhowmanybridgeswehaveyettocrosstoreach equality.

ADA25:ManyBridgestoCross3

ExecutiveSummary

Wehavealottocelebrate.TheADA,ourCivilRightsAct,hasmadeasignificantdifferencein thelivesofpeoplewithdisabilities.Ithasgivenusatooltousetobringaboutequalopportunitythroughlegalchallengesandvoluntarycompliance.Ithasempoweredustochallengetheunequalstatusquo,toidentifyandeliminatedisparities.Asaresult,inNewYorkCity,manythingshavechanged:

●● Peopleusingwheelchairscannavigatetheaislesandcheckoutlinesatsomedrugstoresandgroceries;

●● LivetheatersandmovietheatersaremoreaccessibleforpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareDeaf;

●● PeoplewhoareBlindorhavelow-visionmustbeabletogetwrittenmaterialsinalternateformats;

●● Agovernmentemploymentprogrammustprovidereasonableaccommodationsforpeoplewithmentaldisabilities;

●● Emergencyplannersmustprovideforevacuation,transportation,shelter,communicationandcanvassingforallpeoplewithdisabilitiespursuanttoalandmarkcivilrightscourtdecisionresultingfromasuitbroughtbyCIDNYandothers;

●● AState-proposedhealthcarerationingschemethatdiscriminatedagainstpeoplewithdisabilitieswaspreventedfromtakingeffect;

●● Studentswithdisabilitiescanobtainreasonableaccommodationswhentheyaresittingcollegeentranceexams;

●● PollingsitesmustbephysicallyaccessibleonelectiondaypursuanttoacourtdecisionresultingfrommorethanadecadeofCIDNY’sdocumentationofvotingrightsdiscrimination;

●● Somesubwaystationsareaccessible,somecornershavecurbcuts,andhalfoftheNewYorkCitytaxifleetmustbeaccessibleby2020;

●● HospitalsmustprovideinterpretersforpeoplewhoareDeafandaccessibleequipmentforpeoplewithphysicaldisabilities;

●● Programsexisttoremovearchitecturalbarriersinhousing;

●● Peoplewithalldisabilitieslivingininstitutionsmustbeabletoreceiveservicesinthemostintegratedsetting;

●● Somepubliclibraries,courtroomsandothergovernmentserviceshavebeenmademoreaccessible;

●● Somesportsandrecreationfacilitieshaveprovidedreasonableaccommodationsforpeoplewithdisabilities;

●● PeoplewhousewheelchairscanaccessthetopoftheEmpireStateBuilding;

●● PeoplewhousewheelchaircanusetheStatenIslandferryandotherferries;

●● PeoplewithautismcanattendanAutism-FriendlyBroadwayshow;

●● Peoplewithvariousdisabilitieshavebeenabletoaccessmorecommunity-basedhousingopportunitiesasopposedtonursinghomesandotherinstitutions;

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●● Peoplewithdisabilitieshavemoreaccesstohighereducationopportunitiesgiventherequirementtoaccommodateinhighereducationinstitutionsaswellasduringentranceexaminations;

●● Moreplaygroundsarebeingbuiltthatareaccessibletoallchildren;

●● Moreparksarebeingmadeaccessibletoall;

●● Cruiseshipsaremoreaccessibletopeoplewithdisabilities.

TheADAhasincreasedourawarenessofdiscriminationandtheneedtoleveltheplayingfield.Publicofficialsandprivatebusinesseshavebecomemoreawareofbarrierstofullparticipationbypeoplewithdisabilities.Peoplewithdisabilitieshavecomeforwardtodemonstratetheimpactofdiscriminationontheirlivesandtoproposeconstructivesolutionstocontinuedsegregationandexclusionthataretoooftenacceptedasnormalandnecessary.

Wehavetraveled fardowntheroadtoequality.Still,wehavefartogo.Acrossthenation,inNewYorkState andNewYorkCity,grossdisparitiesbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiespersistasaresultofcontinuedinstitutionaldiscriminationandattitudinalbarriers.Infact,inNew York City,peoplewithdisabilitiesaresignificantlyworseoffthantheircounterpartsinNewYork Stateandnationally,accordingtothemajorindicatorstracked inthis report.

Themajorindicatorsofwell-beingwelookedatforthisreportinclude:Education,Employment,IncomePoverty,HealthCoverageAccess,Food,Housing,MarriageFamilyandTransportation.

Alongwiththoseindicators,itisimportanttonotethattherearemyriadotherimportantissuesthatmustbeaddressedinthenext25yearsofADAimplementation.Amongtheseare:

●● Theschooltoprisonpipelineforyouthwithdisabilities;

●● Therelationshipbetweenthepoliceandpeoplewithdisabilities;

●● Healthdisparitiesbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities;

●● Theneedforcontinuedfocusondeinstitutionalization;

●● Mediarepresentationofdisability;

●● Thephilanthropiccommunity’slackofengagementwithissuesdeemedtobedisabilityissues;

NewYorkCityishometoover8millionpeopleandwelcomesmillionsoftouristseachyear.Weprideourselvesonourdiversityandouropennesstoallwhowanttocomehere.However,ifNewYorkCityistobetheworldclasscity itclaimstobe,itwillhavetoaddresstheobviousphysicalinaccessibilityofanold-buildcityinofficebuildingsandpublicaccommodations.ToomanyNewYorkCityprograms,servicesandrecreationaleventstakeplaceinbuildingswithrevolvingdoorentries,withoutentryramps,withoutaccessiblebathroomsandwithoutaccessiblehallsandpathways.

Asthisreportshows,theworkweneedtodotofulfillthepromiseoftheADAremainsunfinished.Tocontinuetoprogresstowards equality, New YorkneedstoembraceconcretegoalsforADAcomplianceinordertoremediatetheinferiorstatusofpeoplewithdisabilities.

ADA25:ManyBridgestoCross5

ExecutiveSummary—Education

Education:Peoplewithdisabilitiescontinuetofacediscriminatorybarriersinpubliceducation.Therearedisparitiesbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesindiplomaratesthathaveanimpactonthelikelihoodofemploymentandadequatehouseholdincome.InNewYorkCity,thereisa17.1percenthighschooleducationgapanda16.4percentcollegegraduationgap.ThesegapsarewiderthanthegapsattheStateornationallevel.

●● InNewYorkCity,thepercentageofpeoplewithdisabilitieswhohaveahighschooldiplomaorequivalentis66.4percent.Incontrast,thediplomarateforpeoplewithoutdisabilitiesis

83.5percent.

●● ThediplomagapinNewYorkCity(17.1%)iswiderthanthediplomagapatthenationallevel(12.7%)ortheStatelevel(14.9%).InManhattan,thediplomagapis21.7percent.Thegapexistsforallpeoplewithanydisabilities.

●● Theeducationgapwidensatthecollegelevel.Thediplomarateforpeoplewithnodisability(34.9%)ismorethandoublethediplomarateforpeoplewithdisabilities(16.4%).

●●Peoplewithanycognitivedisabilities(e.g.“becauseofaphysical,mental,oremotionalproblem,havingdifficultyremembering,concentrating,ormakingdecisions”)aremoreseverelydisadvantagedthanothers.

●● Womenwithdisabilitiesarelesslikelythanmenwithdisabilitiestohavecollegedegrees.

●● PeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareBlackorHispanicaremoreseverelydisadvantagedintermsofeducationalattainment.

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ExecutiveSummary—Employment

Employment:InNewYorkCity,thereisanemploymentrategapof41.2percentbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities.Thegapiswiderforpeoplewithsomedisabilities.Peoplewithdisabilitiesarelargelysegregatedintoverylow-wageoccupations.TheemploymentgapiswiderinNewYorkCitythanattheStateornationallevel.

Educationalachievementgapscontributeto,butdonotentirelyexplain,dramaticemploymentratesgapsbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities.Increasededucationalattainmentdecreasesthedisparityinemploymentandearningsbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities,butevenwithacollegeeducation,awideemploymentgappersists.Why?In2004,oneinfiveworkingageadultswithdisabilitiesdescribedexperiencingjobdiscrimination.Lackofeducationaboutthe ADA’semploymentprotectionsandpersistentemploymentdiscriminationandlackofreasonableaccommodationsandnecessarysupportshaveasignificantimpactonthelivesofpeoplewithdisabilities.Disabilityemploymentratesdifferby“severity”ofdisability,gender,race/ethnicity,typeofdisabilityandmarriage.Itisevidentthatpeoplewhoexperiencea“doubleburden”ofdiscriminationfaceworseemploymentodds.

●● InNewYork City, theemploymentrateforpeoplewithanydisabilityis29.1percentandtheemploymentrateforpeoplewithoutdisabilitiesis70.3percent.

●● Theemploymentgapbetweenhighschoolgraduateswithdisabilitiesandhighschoolgraduateswithoutdisabilitiesis39percent.

●● Theemploymentgapforcollegegraduateswithandwithoutdisabilitiesis34.4percent.

●● TheemploymentrateforwomenwithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCity(29.3%)isessentiallythesameasattheStatelevel(30.7%)ornationallevel(31.8%).Botharesignificantlybelowtheirnon-disabledcounterparts.

●● Wagesforwomenwithdisabilitiesare85.2percentofwagesformenwithdisabilities.

●● PeoplewithCognitive,Self-careandIndependentLivingdisabilitiesarelesslikelytohavejobsthanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.(Self-careandIndependentLivingdisabilitiesareconsideredmarkersforthe“severity”ofdisability.)

●● Thetop10occupationsforpeoplewithoutdisabilitiesincludeteachers,managers,accountantsandauditors.Forpeoplewithdisabilities,thetop10occupationsincludejanitors,buildingcleaners,maids,housekeepersandchildcareworkers.

ADA25:ManyBridgestoCross7

ExecutiveSummary—IncomePoverty

IncomeandPoverty:IncomeislowerforpeoplewithdisabilitiesandpovertyishigherinNewYorkCitythanitisattheStateornationallevel.InNewYorkCity,thereisapovertygapof19.9percentbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities.

Income

●● IntheUnitedStates,peoplewithnodisabilitytakein$14,950moreinmedianequivalizedhouseholdincomethanpeoplewithdisabilities.TheincomegapiswiderinManhattanthanitisinanyregionofNew York Stateornationally.

●● Thegapinincomeiswidestbetweenpeoplewithdisabilities($21,702) andpeoplewithoutdisabilities($61,894)inManhattan.

●● InNewYorkCity,womenwithdisabilitieshavelowermedianequivalizedhouseholdincomes($18,950)thandowomenwithoutdisabilities($36,745).

●● Allpeoplewithdisabilitiesexperiencewideearningsgaps—theyarewiderforpeoplewithCognitivedisabilities(e.g.“becauseofaphysical,mental,oremotionalproblem,havingdifficultyremembering,concentrating,ormakingdecisions”)thananyothergroup.However,widegapsexistforpeoplewithAmbulatoryorIndependentLivingdisabilities.Gapsaregreaterforthosewithmultipledisabilities.

●● Citywide,theincomeofpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareHispanic($14,891)islowerthantheincomeofpeoplewhoareHispanicwithnodisability($27,289).

Poverty

●● ThepovertyrateforpeoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCity(36.5%)isdoublethepovertyrateofpeoplewithoutdisabilities(16.6%).

●● PeoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCityaremorelikelytobelivinginpovertythantheyareattheStatelevel(32.5%)orthenationallevel(30.5%).

●● ThepovertyrateforpeoplewithCognitivedisabilitiesis40.6%inNewYorkState.

●● InNewYorkCity,peoplewithdisabilitieswhoareemployedrelyonSNAP(21.2%)atamuchhigherratethanpeoplewithoutdisabilitieswhoareemployed(12.5%).

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ExecutiveSummary—HealthCoverageAccess

HealthCoverageandAccess:Uninsurancepersistsforpeoplewithdisabilities.There isagapinprivateinsurancecoveragebetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesthatmayreflectinpartdiscriminationinbenefitdesignornetworkdesign.ContinuedviolationsoftheADAareevidentinbarrierstohealthcareaccessthatpersistinbothhospitalsandcommunity-basedsettings,resultinginhealthdisparitiesforpeoplewithdisabilities.

InNewYorkState,despitehavingachievednearuniversalcoverageforpeoplewithdisabilities(89.2%),passageoftheADA,ouropenenrollmentandcommunityratinginsurancelaw,developmentofstandardsforaccesstohealthcaresettingsandservicesandlitigationoverthefailuretoprovideaccessiblehealthservices,peoplewithdisabilitiescontinuetoexperiencesignificanthealthdisparitiesandhavesignificantunmethealthneeds.

Inprivateinsurance,discriminationinbenefitdesignpersists—forexample,untilrecentlyNewYork’sinsurersonlyofferedoneprostheticperlifetimeforindividualswhopurchasetheirowncoverageorhaveemployercoverage.Althoughstandardshavebeenpromulgatedforaccessiblediagnosticmedicalequipment,fewfacilitieshaveconsideredtheirobligationtoprovideforthempursuanttotheADA.PeoplewhoareDeafreportinabilitytoobtaininterpretersincommunity-basedmedicalsettings;providerofficeslistedasaccessibleinhealthplandirectoriesarefound,uponexamination,tobeinaccessible;materialsonhealthtopicsinalternateformatsarelargelyunavailable.Peopleexperiencestigmawhentheyseekmedicalservices.

●● InNewYorkCity,peoplewithdisabilitieshaveahighercoveragerate(89.3%)thantheirnon-disabledcounterparts(79.4%).

●● However,peoplewithdisabilitieshavealowerrateofcoveragebyprivateinsurance(39.2%)thanpeoplewithoutdisabilities(77.3%).

●● Thereare46,334peoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCitywhohavenoinsuranceandnearly106,000peoplewithdisabilitieswhohavenoinsuranceinNewYorkState.

●● TherateofuninsuranceishighestinQueens.Peoplewithdisabilitiesremainuninsuredevenwhenworkingbecauseoftheprevalenceoflowwagepart-timeemploymentavailabletopeoplewithdisabilities.ThehighestincidenceofuninsuredworkingpeoplewithdisabilitiesisalsoinQueens.

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ExecutiveSummary—Food/Housing

Food

Food:PeoplewithdisabilitiesaremorereliantonSNAP(foodstamps)tohaveadequatenutritionthanarepeoplewithoutdisabilities.InNewYorkCity,workingpeoplewithdisabilitiesare8.7percentmorereliantonSNAPtomakeendsmeetthanarepeoplewithoutdisabilitiesinNewYorkCity.Thegapbetweenworking

peoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesiswiderinNewYorkCitythanitisattheStateornationallevel.

Every$5ofSNAPbenefitsbring$9intotheeconomyoflow-incomecommunities—thesebenefitsarealsocriticaltothehouseholdsofpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoserentburdensareunaffordable.ThehigherSNAPparticipationrateofworkingpeoplewithdisabilitiesreflectsthedisparitiesinoccupationsandwagesthatareavailabletopeoplewithdisabilities.

Housing

Housing:Peoplewithdisabilitiesaremorelikelytobehomelessorinsecurelyhousedthanarepeoplewithoutdisabilitiesbecausetheyareunabletoaffordtheirrentandcannotfindaccessiblehousing.InNewYorkCity,peoplewithdisabilitiesare8.7percentlesslikelytoownhomesandare9.3percentmorelikelythanpeoplewithoutdisabilitiestopaymorethan50percentoftheirincomeforrent.

TheADAandtheSupremeCourt’sOlmsteaddecisioninterpretingthelawtellusthatpeoplewithdisabilitieshavearighttoliveinthemostintegratedsetting.InNew YorkCity, themostsignificantbarriertocommunityintegrationforpeoplewithdisabilitiesisthelackofaffordableandaccessiblehousing.Inaddition,housingdiscriminationagainstpeoplewithdisabilitiespersists.DespitetheinaccessibilityofNew YorkCity’ssheltersystem,nearlyhalfofthe peoplewhoarehomelessarepeoplewithdisabilities.Thereisawidegulfbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities’abilitytobehousedinNewYork City.Peoplewithdisabilitiesaredisproportionatelyreliantonpublichousingsupportsandsubsidiesforhousing.

Eliminationofdiscriminationinhousingisanimperativegiventhelimitedsupplyofaffordableandaccessiblehousing.Additionalsubsidiesforhousingaffordabilityaremorecriticalforpeoplewithdisabilitiesthanforpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

●● Peoplewithdisabilitiesaremorelikelytobeinsecurelyhoused.Over35percent(35.2%)ofpeoplewithdisabilitiesarepayingmorethan50percentoftheirincomeforrent,comparedto

25.9percentofpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

●● Peoplewithdisabilitiesaresignificantlylesslikelytoowntheirownhomes(25.7%)thanpeoplewithoutdisabilities(34.4%).

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ExecutiveSummary—MarriageFamily

MarriageandFamily:Peoplewithdisabilitiesarelesslikelythanpeoplewithoutdisabilitiestobemarriedandhaveaspousepresent.InNewYorkCity,the“spousegap”betweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesis11.9percent.

Theabilitytomarryandformafamilyisanindicatorofthestatusofpeoplewithdisabilities.Marriageisasocialtieandaffectshealthandwell-being.Itisalsoaneconomicindicator;marriageisassociatedwithmorehoursofworkandhigherearnings.Peoplewithdisabilitieswhoaresinglearemorelikelytobelivinginpovertythanpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoaremarried.Povertyisalsoagreatcontributortomaritalbreakup.

Historically,marriagelawsrestricted/prohibitedmarriageandprocreationbypeoplewithsomedisabilities. Westillseetheimpactoftheserestrictions.

●● InNewYork City, peoplewithdisabilitiesarelesslikelytobemarriedwithaspousepresent(25.2%)thanpeoplewithoutdisabilities(37.1%).Thereisa“spousegap”of 11.9 percent.

●● Lowerratesofmarriageexistforpeoplewithanydisability.However,peoplewithCognitive disabilitiesareonlyhalfaslikelytobemarriedwithaspousepresentaspeoplewithoutdisabilities.ThereisamarriedwithspousepresentrateinNew YorkCityof 15.8percentforpeoplewithCognitivedisabilitiesascomparedtothemarriedwithspousepresentrateof

37.1percentforpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

●● Peoplewithdisabilitiesaretwotimesmorelikelytobeseparatedordivorced(20.9%)thanpeoplewithoutdisabilities(10.6%).

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ExecutiveSummary—Transportation

Transportation:TheinaccessibilityoftheNewYorkCitysubwaysystemhasresultedinatransportationgapforpeoplewithsomedisabilities.Atthesametime,thelackoforinadequacyofcurbcutsimpedessidewalkaccess.

TheADAprohibitsdiscriminationbypublictransportationsystems,includingsubwaysystems.TheADArequirestheaccessibilityofsidewalks,streetcrossingsandpedestrianroutesthatmakeuppublicright-of-way.Muchhasbeenachievedbymakingbusesaccessible.However,gapspersist thatinfluencetheabilitytobeemployedandtoengageinthecommunity. Asurveyofcurbcuts inlowerManhattandonebyCIDNYshowsthatover68percentofcurbcutshadbarriersforpeoplewithdisabilitiesandover22percentofthestreetcornerssurveyedhadnocurbrampat all.Atthesametime,duringbadsnowand/oricestorms,accesstobusliftsisnearlyimpossibleforpeoplewhousewheelchairsbecausebusstopsandcurbcutsarenotadequatelyclearedandkeptclear,creatinganinsurmountablebarrierforpeoplewithdisabilities.

●● InNewYork City,peoplewithdisabilitiesusepublictransportation(busorsubway)togettoworkataslightlylowerrate(52.6%)thanpeoplewithoutdisabilities(54%).

●● Howeverpeoplewithdisabilitiesaremuchlesslikelytousethesubway(34.9%)thanpeoplewithoutdisabilities (41.8%).ThismaybeaconsequenceofthefactthataccordingtotheMetropolitanTransportationAuthoritywebsite,only86ofthe468subwaystations(18%)throughoutthefiveboroughsofNewYorkCityhaveelevatorsandareaccessibletopersonswhousewheelchairs.

●● PeoplewithAmbulatorydisabilitiesusethesubwaytogettoworkatarateof30.5percent,asignificantlylowerratethanforpeoplewithoutdisabilities,whoserateis41.8percent.

●● PeoplewithAmbulatorydisabilitieswalk/wheeltoworkatalowerrate(8.06%)andpeoplewithVisiondisabilitieswalktoworkatalowerrate(8.7%)thanpeoplewithnodisabilities (10.2%).

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ExecutiveSummary—Recommendations

●● Reducedisparitiesineducationalattainmentatthehighschoolandcollegelevels.Eliminateaccessbarriersandprovideservicesthatenablestudentstosucceed.Emphasizehighereducationforstudentswithdisabilities.Teach educatorsandstudentsaboutdisabilityrights.

●● Narrowtheeconomicgapsbetweenpeoplewithdisabilitiesandpeoplewithoutdisabilities inemployment,earningsandpovertyrate.Governmentcanuseeconomicdevelopmentand

purchasingpowertoachievebetteremploymentoutcomes.Itmustraisetheminimumwage.

●● Expandaccesstofreshfoodforlow-incomecommunitiesandmaketheseoptionsaccessibleforpeoplewithalldisabilities.Eliminatebarrierstopantries,soupkitchens,foodshopsandgreenmarketsthatmakethemunusableordifficulttouseforpeoplewithdisabilities.

●● Increasetheavailabilityofintegratedaccessiblehousingoptionsforpeoplewithdisabilitieswhohaveextremelylowincomesandwhoarenowseverelyrentburdenedandatriskofhomelessness,livinginsecurelydoubledupwithelderlyfamilymembers,inhomelesssheltersortrappedininstitutions.Preserveexistingaffordablehousing.

●● Decreasebarrierstopublicandprivateinsuranceandincreasenetworkadequacysothatpeoplewithdisabilitiesareensuredadequateinsuranceproductsandhealthoutcomes.Healthcareorganizationsreceivingpublicfunds,particularlythoseservinglow-incomecommunities,mustberequiredtobecomecompliantwiththeADA.

●● Policymakersneedtoscrutinizelegislativeinitiativesandadministrativeprocedurestoensurethatgovernmentpoliciesdonotencouragediscriminationagainstpeoplewithdisabilitiesbyimpedingmarriage.

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Who ArePeoplewithDisabilities in New York

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TheRateofDisabilityVariesAcrossNewYorkCity

DisabilityRatesbyBorough

TheAmericanCommunitySurveyoftheU.S.Censusasksquestionsthatidentifywhohasadisability.Therearesixquestionsthatfocusonidentifyingdisabilities.Theyaskabouthearing,seeing,thinking,feeling,walkingandclimbing,takingcareofoneself,anddoingerrandsalone.Peopleareaskedto self-identify, andmaychoosenotto.

Disabilityprevalenceisawayoftalkingabouthowcommondisabilityisinthepopulation.Therateofdisabilityinthepopulationvariesbycommunity,typeofdisabilityandnumberofdisabilities,age,raceandethnicity,andgender.

Thereare38,827,632peoplewithdisabilitiesintheUnitedStates.Thedisabilityprevalence rateintheU.S.is12.6percent.ItisslightlylowerinNew YorkState:11.5percentor 2,043,585peoplewithdisabilities.ItislowerinNewYorkCityat10.8percent,where887,640peoplewith

disabilitieslive.InNewYorkCity,thehighestrateofdisabilityisintheBronx,where14.1percentor195,722peoplewithdisabilitieslive.ThelargestconcentrationsofpeoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCityliveinBrooklyn (252,826) andQueens(225,329).

Brooklyn

10.1% |252,826

StatenIsland10.5%|48,983

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DisabilityRatesbyKindofDisability

Somedisabilitiesaremorecommoninthepopulationthanothers.Mostpeoplewithdisabilitieshavemorethanonedisability.

InNewYorkCity,peoplewithdisabilitiesidentifyinthefollowingways:

●● 2.3%Deaf/Hearingdifficulties(185,378);

●● 2.3%Blind/Difficultyseeing(184,886);

●● 4.5%Cognitive(344,136);

●● 7.1%Ambulatory (547,593);

●● 3%Self-CareDifficulties(232,531);

●● 6%Independentliving(383,658).

ThehighestrateofHearingdisabilities(2.6%)isintheBronx.TherateofAmbulatorydisabilityishighestintheBronx(9.1%) andlowestinQueens(6.6%).ThehighestrateofIndependentLivingdisabilityisintheBronx(7.4%), andthelowestrateisinManhattan(5%).

Themajorityofpeoplewithdisabilitieshavemultipledisabilities.Self-careandIndependentLivingcategoriesaresometimesthought ofasmarkersofmoreseveredisability.

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DisabilityRatesbyAgeandGender

Womenhavehigherratesofmultipledisabilities.Peoplearemorelikelytohavemultipledisabilitiesastheyage—byage25,twoinfivepeoplewithdisabilitieshavemultipledisabilities.

InNewYorkState,50.3percentofpeoplewithdisabilitiessaythattheyhavemorethanonekindofdisability.

Womenaremorelikelythanmentohavemultipledisabilities:54.5percentofwomenhavefrom2–6disabilities,comparedto45.5percentofmenwhohavefrom2–6disabilities.

Therateofmultipledisabilitiesgoesgoupwithage.Only26.4percentofyoungchildrenhavemultipledisabilities.Atage25, 41.8 percentofpeoplewithdisabilitieshavemultipledisabilities.Byage50,46.6percentofadultshavemultipledisabilities.Byage78, 61.1percentofadultshavedisabilities.

Ratesofmultipledisabilitydonotvarysignificantlybyraceandethnicity;however,thereare smallvariations.

Peopleofallageshavedisabilities.Peoplearemorelikelytohavedisabilitiesastheygetolder.

InNewYorkCity, thefollowingareratesofdisabilitiesbyagegroup:

●● 4.1percentofyouthages5–17(50,870);

●● 3.7percentofyoungadultsages18–34(83,650);

●● 11percentofadultsages35–64(348,410);

●● 27percentofolderadultsages65–74(145,147);

●● 55.3percentofolderadultsages75andolder(256,159).

Therateofdisabilityamongyouthages5–17ishighestintheBronx(6.8%or17,875youth)andManhattan(4.2%or6,601youth).ThelowestrateofchildrenandyouthwithdisabilitiesisinBrooklyn(3%or12,379youth).

ThehighestrateofdisabilityamongworkingageadultsisintheBronx(23%or 108,116individuals).ThelowestrateofdisabilityamongworkingageadultsisinQueens(12.8%or104,619 people).Therateofdisabilityamongpeoplewhoare75andolderisgreatestintheBronx(58.9%or38,876people)andBrooklyn(58.9%or79,922people).InQueens,theprevalencerateis52.6percentandthereare71,502 peopleoverage75withdisabilities.

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DisabilityRatesVarybyRaceandEthnicity

Disabilityprevalenceratesdifferbyraceandethnicity.Withinspecificethnicities,disabilityprevalenceratestendtovaryaswell.Forexample,amongpeoplewhoareHispanic,therateofphysicaldisabilityissomewhathigheramongMexican-Americanseniors.AmongpeoplewhoareAsian,ratesofCognitivedisabilityarehigheramongpeoplewhoareVietnamese-American.

RatesofdisabilitywithinaracialorethnicgroupalsovaryacrosstheCityandState.TheprevalenceofdisabilityishigheramongHispanicsinNewYorkCitywhencomparedtoHispanicsinotherpartsofthestate.Citywide,theprevalenceofpeoplewithdisabilitiesofdifferentracesandethnicitiesis:

●● 12%BlackorAfrican-American;

●● 11.4%Hispanic;

●● 11.2%White;

●● 6.5%Asian;

●● 10.1%Other.

10.3%Manhattan
14%Hispanic
17%Black
7.3%Asian

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Education

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Education—HighSchoolDiploma

Highschooldiplomaratesaremuchlowerforpeoplewithanykindofdisability.Peoplewithsomedisabilitiesfareworsethanothers.Womenwithdisabilitiesarelesslikelytohaveahighschooldiploma.

ThepercentageofpeoplewithdisabilitieswhohaveahighschooldiplomainNewYorkCityis

66.4percent(286,728people).Incontrast,thediplomarateforpeoplewithoutdisabilitiesis

83.5percent.Thehighschool“diplomagap”betweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesis

17.1percent.

Thenationaldiplomarateforpeoplewithdisabilitiesis75.6percent.TheStatediplomarateforpeoplewithdisabilitiesis72.9percent.ThisgapbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesiswiderthanthediplomagapsoftheU.S.(12.7%)andNewYorkState(14.9%).

Typeofdisabilitymattersindiplomarates.PeoplewithCognitivedisabilitieshavethelowesthighschooldiplomarate(66.2%).DiplomaratesalsolagsignificantlyforpeoplewhohaveanAmbulatorydisability(73.1%)andforpeoplewithaVisiondisability(70.5%).

Womenwithdisabilitiesarelesslikelytohaveahighschooldiplomaorequivalentthanmenwithdisabilities.

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Education—CollegeDiploma

Peoplewithdisabilitiesarefarlesslikelytohaveacollegediplomathanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.Thegapineducationalattainmentwidensatthecollegelevel.

ThepercentageofpeoplewithdisabilitieswhohaveacollegediplomaormoreinNewYorkCityis16.4percent(70,928people).Thecollegediplomarateforpeoplewithoutdisabilitiesis34.9percent.

Thecollege“diplomagap”betweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesis18.5percent.ThisgapbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesislargerthanthediplomagapsoftheU.S.(12.7%).

ThecollegegraduationrateishighestforpeoplewithHearingdisabilities(17.1%)andVisiondisabilities(14.7%).ItislowestforpeoplewithCognitivedisabilities(9.5%).

Theeffectofacollegeeducationonlikelihoodofemploymentisgreaterforpeoplewithdisabilitiesthanforpeoplewithoutdisabilities.Obtainingacollegedegreehasanimpactonthelikelihoodofemploymentforpeoplewithanydisability.

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Reducedisparitiesineducationalattainmentatthehighschoolandcollegelevels.Eliminateaccessbarriersandprovideservicesthatenablestudentstosucceed.

Emphasizehighereducationforstudentswithdisabilities.Teacheducatorsandstudentsaboutdisabilityrights.

Ineducation,theADAimplementationwillcontinuetobekeytoprogressinelevatingthestatusofpeoplewithdisabilitiesandremovingdisparitiesinaccessandoutcomes.

Educationisthekeytoparticipationinourdemocracy,work,andeconomicwell-being.Educationalattainmenthasasignificantimpactonemployabilityandearningsforpeoplewithdisabilities—toamuchgreaterextentthanithasforpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

Segregationandfailuretoprovideresourcesthatyouthwithdisabilitiesneedinordertobesuccessfulhavetoend.

Transitionplanningforstudentswithdisabilitiesiscritical.Studentsmustbepreparedfortheadultworldofschoolandworkwhiletheyareinhighschool.Thisincludesbeingpreparedtoadvocateforthemselvesinhighereducationandemploymentandexercisetheirrightsasadultswithdisabilities.

●● Makeallpublicschoolsfullyaccessibleforpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareteachers,studentsandfamilymembers;

●● Focuseducationalresourcesonensuringthatstudentswithdisabilitiesmaximizeschooltimeandsupports,includeafocusondisabilityinprogramsthatattempttopreventstudentsfromdroppingoutorbeingpushedoutofschool;

●● Educateteachers,principals,staff,studentsandfamiliesaboutthecivilrightsofstudentswithdisabilitiesandrequireaccountabilityforthesuccessofstudentswithdisabilities;

●● Createbridgestocollegeforyouthwithdisabilitiesandprogramsfocusedoncollegesuccessforstudentswithdisabilities;

●● Emphasizehighereducationopportunitiesforthoseparticipatinginvocationalrehabilitation;

●● Reducecostbarrierstoeducationasthesehaveadisparateimpactonpeoplewithdisabilities.

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Employment

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EmploymentRate/Gap

Whenworking,peoplewithdisabilitiesaremorelikelytobeconcentratedinbottom-rungoccupationswithlowerpaythantheirnon-disabledpeers.

ThetopoccupationsforpeoplewithdisabilitiesforthemostcountiesinNewYorkStatearedifferentforpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities.Forpeoplewithdisabilities,thetopoccupationsarejanitorsandbuildingcleaners.Forpeoplewithoutdisabilities,theyareteachersinprimaryandelementaryschools.

InNewYorkCity, thetoptenoccupationsforpeoplewithnodisabilitiesincludeelementaryandmiddleschoolteachers,managers,accountantsandauditors.Thetoptenoccupationsforpeoplewithdisabilitiesincludedrivers,maids,janitorsandbuildingcleaners.

Thereareotherkindsof“employmentgaps”forpeoplewithdisabilities.Forexample,peoplewithdisabilitiesaremorelikelytoworkpart-timeorpartyear.

Thesedifferenceshaveanimpactonhouseholdincomeandpovertyrates.

EmploymentRate

InNewYorkCity,theemploymentrateforpeoplewithdisabilitiesisdramaticallylowerthantheemploymentrateofpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

InNewYorkCity,125,557individualswithdisabilitiesareemployed.Thisisanemploymentrateof 29.1percent,whichissubstantiallylessthatthe 70.3percentemploymentrateoftheircounterpartswithoutdisabilities.Therefore,theemploymentgapinNew YorkCityis41.2percentagepoints.

TheNewYorkCityemploymentgapisslightlylargerthantheemploymentgapoftheU.S.(40.2%)andthesameasthegapattheStatelevel(41.1%).

ThehighestemploymentgapisinManhattan(43.6%),followedbytheBronx(41.3%).ThehighestemploymentrateforpeoplewithdisabilitiesisinQueens(34.3%).

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Employment—Race/Ethnicity

EmploymentratesforpeoplewithdisabilitiesofallracesanddisabilitiesvaryacrosstheCity.PeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareBlackandHispanicappeartobearahigherburdenofdiscriminationthanpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareWhite.

Employmentratesvarybyraceandethnicityforpeoplewithdisabilitiesacrossallboroughs.TheemploymentraterangeacrossboroughsishigherforWhitesthanitisforpeopleofotherracesandethnicities.

●● 25.5–43.5%White

●● 22.1–36.4%Hispanic

●● 20.7–32.8%Black

●● 33.4–40.2%Asian

●● 20–37.7%Other

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Employment—Gender

Thegapintheemploymentratebetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesvariesbygender.Wagesarelowerforwomenwithdisabilities.

InNewYork City, theemploymentrateforwomenwithoutdisabilitiesis65.8percent.Theemploymentrateforwomenwithdisabilitiesis29.3percent.TheemploymentrateforwomenwithdisabilitiesinNew YorkCityisslightlylower(29.3%)thanattheStatelevel(30.7%)oratthenationallevel(31.8%).

AcrosstheboroughsofNew York City, thegapinemploymentbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesissmallerforwomen(33.1%–39.4%)thanitisformen(42.6%–49.5%), whichmayreflectthelowerrateofemploymentforwomenwithoutdisabilities.

Wagesforwomenwithdisabilitiesare85.2percentofwagesformenwithdisabilities.

Manhattan

Rate: 31.6%Women

28%Men

StatenIsland

Rate: 24.7%Women

27.9% Men

Gap:39.4%Women

48.1%Men

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Employment—Disability

Peoplewithsomedisabilitiesappearlesslikelytohavejobs.Employabilityalsodependsonwhetherapersonhasmorethanonedisability.Employmentratesvaryquitesignificantlybytypeofdisability.

HavingSelf-careorIndependentLivingdisabilitiesinadditiontoanotherdisabilityworsensprospectsforemployment,asindicatedbythelowerratesofemploymentforpeoplewithSelf-careorIndependentLivingdisabilities.EmploymentratesarealsoloweramongpeoplewithCognitivedisabilities,whichincludesanymentaloremotionaldisabilities.

InNewYork City, employmentratesbydisabilityare:

●● 32.2–50.1%Hearing

●● 30.4–45.5%Vision

●● 13.9–19.9%Cognitive

●● 19.2–29.4%Ambulatory

●● 10.8–19.2%Self-care

●● 9.7–15.1% IndependentLiving

EmploymentratesforpeoplewhohaveaHearingdisabilityislowerinNewYorkCity(40.8%)thanattheStatelevel(48.1%)orthenationallevel(49.7%).ForpeoplewhohaveaCognitivedisabilityinNew YorkCity,employmentratesarealsothelowestat17.2percentcomparedto

21.4percentforNew YorkStateand23.1percentintheU.S.

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Incomeand Poverty

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IncomeandPoverty—MedianEquivalizedHouseholdIncome(MEHI)

InNewYorkCity,peoplewithdisabilitiestakein$11,307lessinincomethanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

Peoplewithdisabilitiesofworkingage(18–64)haveamedianequivalizedhouseholdincome(MEHI)of$22,904inNewYork City.PeoplewithoutdisabilitieshaveaMEHIincomeof($34,211).

TheMEHIsofpeoplewithdisabilitiesarelowerinNewYorkCitythantheyareattheStatelevel($27,559),orinanyotherregionoftheStateandacrossthenation($25,875).ThegapinincomeiswiderinManhattan ($40,192) thanitisinotherboroughs.

MenwithanydisabilitieshaveahigherMEHI($22,062)thanwomenwithanydisabilities($18,950).

MEHIdisparitiesexistbetweenpeoplewithdisabilitiesofdifferentracesandethnicities.Citywide,theincomeofpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareHispanicis$14,891,whileitis$32,605forpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareWhite.LowerearningspersistforpeoplewhoareBlack,Asian,Hispanic,andBi-racial.

Thelargestgapsinmedianearningsbyindustryareintheretailtrade(34.7%),finance(38.9%),andinsuranceandrealestate(38.9%).Thegapinmedianearningsbyindustryforretailand

forfinance,andinsuranceandrealestateissignificantlybiggerinNewYorkCitythanitisattheStatelevelorthenationallevel.

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IncomeandPoverty—MedianEquivalizedHouseholdIncome(MEHI)(continued)

Therearehouseholdincomegapsamongpeoplewithdisabilitiesages18–64.Peoplewithsomedisabilitieshavelowerincomesthanothers.

Therearestrongvariationsinincomebetweenpeoplewithdifferentkindsofdisabilities.PeoplewithHearingdisabilitieshavethehighestincomes($24,800),followedbypeoplewithVisiondisabilities($20,343).PeoplewithCognitivedisabilitieshavethelowestincomes($16,570).

PeoplewithCognitivedisabilitieshavethelowestMEHI.Itrangesfrom$12,091intheBronxto

$28,784inStatenIsland.

PeoplewithIndependentLivingdisabilitieshaveaMEHIof $13,424intheBronxto$26,385inStatenIsland.

PeoplewithAmbulatorydisabilitieshaveaMEHIof$18,448citywide.

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IncomeandPoverty—PovertyRate

ThepovertyrateforpeoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCityisdoublethepovertyrateforpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

InNewYorkCity, 36.5percentofpeoplewithdisabilitiesarelivinginpoverty. Incontrast,16.6percentofpeoplewithoutdisabilitiesarelivinginpovertycitywide.ThepovertyrateforpeoplewithdisabilitiesishigherinNewYorkCitythanitisinanyotherregioninNewYorkState.PeoplewithdisabilitiesaremorelikelytobelivinginpovertyinNewYorkCitythantheyareattheStatelevel(32.5%)orthenationallevel(30.5%).

ThepovertyrategapbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesiswiderinNewYorkCity(19.9%)thanitisattheStatelevel (18.8%)oratthenationallevel(16%). ThewidestpovertygapisinManhattan(23.4%).

Peoplewithdifferentdisabilitieshavedifferentpovertyrates:

●● 40.6%Cognitivedisability;

●● 38%IndependentLiving;

●● 36.%Self-care;

●● 34.4%Vision;

●● 33.1%Ambulatory;

●● 23.9%Hearing.

Povertyratesforpeoplewithdisabilitiesalsovarybyraceand ethnicity.ThehighestrateofpovertyinNewYorkCityforallpeoplewithdisabilitiesisintheBronx,whichhasarateof45.1percent.

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IncomeandPoverty—

PovertyRatebyRace/Ethnicity

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Employment,IncomePovertyRecommendations

Narrowtheeconomicgapsbetweenpeoplewithdisabilitiesandpeoplewithoutdisabilitiesinemployment,earningsandpovertyrate.Governmentcanuseeconomicdevelopmentandpurchasingpowertoachievebetteremploymentoutcomes.Itmustraisetheminimumwage.

Economicdevelopment,governmentcontractingandemploymentprogrampoliciesmustfocus oneliminatingemploymentdisparitiesforpeoplewithdisabilities.NewYorkCitycoulddirecteconomicdevelopmentresourcesandgovernmentcontractingresourcestoemployingpeoplewithdisabilities,settingdisabilityemploymenttargets.Workforceprogramsneeddisability-literateworkerswhoareabletoadviseunemployedjobseekerswhohavedisabilitiesnotonlyonworkincentivesbutalsoonemploymentrights.Governmenteconomicdevelopmentresourcesandgovernmentcontractorsneedtobeeducatedconcerningreasonableaccommodationsandbecomemoredisabilityliterate.

●● Government-fundedandprivatesectoremploymentandeconomicdevelopmentprogramsmustbeincentivizedtofocusresourcesoneliminationofdisparitiesinemploymentrates,payandconditionsofemploymentforpeoplewithdisabilities;

●● Collaborationwithcommunity-basedorganizationsservingpeoplewithdisabilitiestoteachemploymentrightspursuanttotheADAwouldhelpemployersprovidereasonableaccommodationsandremovejobbarriersthatrelatetodisabilities;

●● Peoplewithdisabilitiesarestilloftenignorantoftheircivilrightsinemploymentsettings,andemploymentprogramsneedtoemphasize“knowyourrights”education;

●● CreateCityandStateutilizationgoalsforemploymentofpeoplewithdisabilitiesmirroringthefederalutilizationgoalofsevenpercent;

●● Benefitsadvisementmustbecomearoutinepartofvocationalrehabilitation,inparticularbecausesomanyworkingpeoplewithdisabilitiesarelivinginpovertyandaremorelikelytoremaindependentonsafety-netprogramswhileworking;

●● Raisetheminimumwagesothatentry-levelworkerswithdisabilitieshaveagreaterlikelihoodofearningalivingwage;

●● Developjobsandjobtrainingprogramsthathelpanindividualgrow,creating“careerladders”forpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareotherwiselockedinpoverty;

●● Prioritizehighereducationandcareerpathsforpeoplewithdisabilitiesand/or“learnandearn”programstoreducetheemploymentdisparitiesbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities.

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Health

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HealthRate

Peoplewithdisabilitieshaveamuchlowerrateofprivatehealthcoveragethanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

InNewYorkCity, peoplewithdisabilitieshaveacoveragerateof89.3percent,whichishigherthanthe79.4percentcoveragerateoftheirnon-disabledcounterparts.Atthesametime,thereare46,334peoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCitywholackhealthinsurancecoverage.Thereare107,512peoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkStatewhohavenohealthinsurance.

Peoplewithdisabilitieshavealowerrateofcoveragebyprivateinsurance:39.2percentofpeoplewithdisabilitieshaveprivatehealthinsurance,whereas77.3percentofpeoplewithoutdisabilitieshaveit.Thecoveragegapis38.1percent.

PeoplewithSelf-caredisabilitiesaremostlikelytohavecoverage;theiruninsuredrateis6.7percent.However,peoplewithVisionandHearingdisabilitiesarelesslikelytohavecoverage andhaveuninsuredratesthatmorecloselyresembletheirnon-disabledcounterparts.

Ratesofuninsuranceofpeoplewithdisabilitiesvariesbyraceand ethnicity. Itis

31.2percentforpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareHispanic.Menwithdisabilitiesaremorelikelytobeuninsured(19.7%)thanwomen(12.9%).

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HealthCoverageandAccessRecommendations

Decreasebarrierstopublicandprivateinsuranceandincreasenetworkadequacysothatpeoplewithdisabilitiesareensuredadequateinsuranceproductsandhealth

outcomes.Healthcareorganizationsreceivingpublicfunds,particularlythoseservinglow-incomecommunities,mustberequiredtobecomecompliantwiththeADA.

Peoplewithdisabilitiesaremorelikelytohavehealthcoveragethanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.However,theyarestilllesslikelytohaveprivatecoveragethanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.More workingpeoplewithdisabilitieslackhealthinsuranceofanykindinNewYorkCitythanattheStatelevel.

TheADAcanbeatooltoreducebarrierstohealthcarethatresultinhealthdisparitiesforpeoplewithdisabilities.Thereismoreworktobedonetoensurethathealthinsuranceprogramsdo

notbenefitfromdiscriminationandthatprovidersmaynotavoidpeoplewithdisabilitiesandsegregatethemintomoreinstitutionalmedicalsettings.

●● Addressbarrierscreatedbythedesignofprivateinsurancebenefitspackagesandnetworkadequacytoincreasetheviabilityofprivateinsuranceasasourceofcoverageforpeoplewithdisabilities;

●● Increaseadequacyofandaccesstoprivatecoverageforlow-wageandpart-timeworkers;

●● Providebenefitsadvisementtopeoplewithdisabilitiesmovingintoemploymentsothattheydonotlosehealthcoverageastheygainlow-wageemployment;

●● Increaseaccessibilityofhealthproviders—particularlythoseservinglow-incomecommunities—byrequiringthatallequipmentbeingreplacedisreplacedwithaccessiblediagnosticmedicalequipmentandthatrenovationsincluderemovalofarchitecturalbarriers;

●● Requirethatgovernment-fundedhealthcareserviceproviderscompletesurveysdemonstratingtheiraccessibilityandplanningtoeliminatebarrierstocare,andmaketheinformationonaccessibilityavailabletothepublic;

●●IncludepeoplewithdisabilitiesandgoalsrelatedtoeradicatingthehealthdisparitiestheyexperienceasarequiredelementinStatecontractswithhealthplansandincontractsforfundingforpublichealthactivities.

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Food

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Food

Peoplewithdisabilitiesaremorelikelytoneedaboosttofoodpurchasingpowerwhenworkingthanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

InNewYork City, peoplewithdisabilitieswhoareemployedaccessSNAPatamuchhigherratethanthosewithoutdisabilitieswhoareemployed.

InNew YorkCity:

●● 21.24%ofpeoplewithdisabilitieswhoareworkingusefoodstamps;

●● 12.51%ofpeoplewithoutdisabilitieswhoareworkingusefoodstamps.

PeoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCityhaveahigherrateofparticipationinthenutritionsupportprogramSNAP(40.8%)thanpeoplewithoutdisabilities(17%).InNewYorkCity,176,469peoplewithdisabilitiesuseSNAP.TheSNAPparticipationrateofpeoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCity,isgreaterthantheparticipationrateattheStatelevel(34.1%)orthenationallevel(28.9%).

SNAPuseishigherinNewYorkCitythaninanyotherregion.

TheSNAPparticipationrateofpeoplewithdisabilitiesishighestintheBronx

(53.6%)andlowestinStatenIsland(24.8%).

ThegapinSNAPparticipationbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesisgreaterinManhattan(28.5%)than

inotherboroughs.

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Food–Recommendations

Expandaccesstofreshfoodforlow-incomecommunitiesandmaketheseoptionsaccessibleforpeoplewithalldisabilities.Eliminatebarrierstopantries,soupkitchens,foodshopsandgreenmarketsthatmakethemunusableordifficulttouseforpeoplewithdisabilities.

Peoplewithdisabilitieshavefeweroptionsforfoodshoppingforhealthfulfoodsbecauseofbarrierstoaccesstohealthyfoods.Thisisduetolackofresourcesavailabletopurchasenutritiousfoods.However,itisalsoduetoinaccessibilityoffoodmarketplaces,includingpantries,soupkitchens,foodshopsandgreenmarkets.Inaddition,thereisnopubliclyavailableinformationregardingaccessibilityandreasonableaccommodationsbythesefoodmarketplaces.

Thiscontributestohealthdisparities.Forexample,peoplewithdisabilitieshavehigherratesofadultobesitythanpeoplewithoutdisabilities;

●● Improveaccessibilityoffoodmarketplaces,includingpantries,soupkitchens,foodshopsandgreenmarkets.Evaluatetheiraccessibilityandrequirethemtoplanfortheeliminationofbarriersthatdiscouragehealthyeatingbypeoplewithdisabilities;

●● Requirethatallfoodprogramsprovideinformationaboutaccessibilityandreasonableaccommodationstothepublictoencourageuseoftheseprogramsbypeoplewithdisabilities.

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Housing

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Housing—Ownership

Peoplewithdisabilitiesaresignificantlylesslikelytoowntheirownhomesthanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

Peoplewithdisabilitiesaresignificantlylesslikelytoowntheirownhomesthanarepeoplewithoutdisabilities.InNewYork City,25.7percentofpeoplewithdisabilities(106,028)owntheirownhomes,and34.4percentofpeoplewithoutdisabilities owntheirownhomes.

ThereisahigherrateofhomeownershipbypeoplewithdisabilitiesinStatenIsland(55.6%)thaninanyotherborough.Itiscomparabletotherateofhomeownershipforpeoplewithdisabilitiesnationally.

InQueens,thegapinhomeownershipbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesisthesmallest(3.5%)ThelowesthomeownershipratesforpeoplewithdisabilitiesareinManhattan(11.3%)andtheBronx(13.2%).

Manhattan11.3%Disability

20.1%NoDisability

Bronx

13.2%Disability

StatenIsland55.6%Disability

74.1% NoDisability

Queens

42%Disability

Brooklyn

26%Disability

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Housing—RentBurdened

Morethanoneinthreepeoplewithdisabilitiesarepayingmorethanhalfoftheirincomeforrent.Theyareveryseverelyrentburdened.

InNewYork City, 52.4percentofpeoplewithdisabilitiesspendmorethanone-thirdoftheirincomeonrentcomparedwith 42.1percentoftheirnon-disabledpeers.

Nearly311,000 individualsor35.2percentofpeoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYorkCityspendmorethan50percentoftheirincomeonrent,comparedwith 25.9percentofpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

Therearesignificantvariationsamongpeoplewithdisabilitiesdependingontheboroughtheylivein.InManhattan,27.5percentofpeoplewithdisabilitiesarespendingmorethan50percentoftheirincomeonrent.However,inStatenIsland,41.4percentofrenterswithdisabilitiesare spendingmorethan50percentoftheirincomeonrent.

Thegapbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitieswhoarepayingmorethan50percent

oftheirhouseholdincomeforrentvariesfrom7.8percentintheBronxto11.2percentinStatenIsland.

InsomeboroughsoftheCity, therearesignificantvariationsinthedegreeforwhichpeoplewithdisabilitiesareextremelyrentburdened.Forexample,38.2%ofWhitepeoplewithdisabilitiespaymorethan50%ofhouseholdincomeonrent,while49%ofHispanicpeoplewithdisabilitiespaymorethan50%oftheirincomeonrent.

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Housing—ExtremelyRentBurdenedbyRace/Ethnicity

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Housing—Recommendations

Increasetheavailabilityofintegratedaccessiblehousingoptionsforpeoplewithdisabilitieswhohaveextremelylowincomesandwhoarenowseverelyrentburdenedandatriskofhomelessness,livinginsecurelydoubledupwithelderlyfamilymembers,inhomelesssheltersortrappedininstitutions.Preserveexistingaffordablehousing.

Peoplewithdisabilitieswhohavehousingaresignificantlymorelikelytobeseverelyrentburdened(payingmorethanhalfoftheirincomeonrent)thanpeoplewithoutdisabilities. Theyareathigherriskofhomelessnessandmakeupadisproportionateshareofthehomelesspopulation.TheSupremeCourt’sOlmsteaddecisioninterpretingtheADAholdsthatstateandlocalgovernmentsareaccountableforintegratingpeoplewithdisabilitiesintothemainstream.Thismandateappliestohousing.

●● Publiclyfundedhousingprogramsmustbeheldaccountablefortheprovisionofaccessiblehousing—whenevertheCityorStateinvestinhousinginany way,theymustbecreatingandpromotingaccessibleandaffordableunitsforpeoplewholiveinpoverty;

●● Whilesupportivehousingisonepointonacontinuumofhousingoptions,itisnotasolutionforallpeoplewithdisabilitieswhodonotqualifyfor,need,desire,orbenefitfromservicesattachedtotheirhousingorwanttoliveinsegregatedsettingsinthecommunity.Independenthousingmustbethepreferredsolution;

●● Engagethedisabilitycommunityinplanningfornewhousingsothatconsiderationsofaccessibilityistakenintoconsideration.Whensidewalksandtransportationoptionsaredeveloped,theyshouldbemadecompliantwiththeADA;

●●Createrentalassistanceoptions,suchasaCitySection8voucher,forseverelyrentburdened peoplewithdisabilities—ashasbeendoneforpeoplewithAIDS—thatlimitstheout-of-pocketcostofrenttoone-thirdofincome;

●●RequirehomelessshelterstobecomeADA-compliant,astheyarethesourceof“housing”foralargesegmentofthedisabilitypopulationandarecurrentlynotincompliancewithfederalcivilrightslaw;

●● Trackhousingset-asidestoensurethattheyarebeingrentedtopeoplewithdisabilitiesasintended.

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MarriageFamily

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MarriageFamily—MarriedPeople

Peoplewithdisabilitiesarelesslikelytobemarriedwithaspousepresentthanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.ThemarriagerateforpeoplewithCognitivedisabilitiesisonly15.8percent.

InNewYork City, 25.2percentofpeoplewithdisabilitiesaremarriedandlivingwiththeirspouse.Forpeoplewithoutdisabilities,37.1percentaremarriedandlivingwiththeirspouse.

PeoplewithdisabilitiesarelesslikelytobemarriedandlivingwithaspouseinNewYorkCitythanpeoplewithdisabilitiesStatewide(39.2%)oratthenationallevel(36.9%).

InNew YorkCity, thehighestratesofmarriagewithaspousebeingpresentforpeoplewithdisabilitiesareinStatenIslandat36.7percent.Forpeoplewithoutdisabilities,therateofpeoplemarriedwithaspousepresentis54.3percent.

PeoplewithCognitivedisabilitiesaretheleastlikelytobemarried.ThemarriagewithaspousepresentrateforpeoplewithCognitivedisabilitiesis24.9percentatthenationallevel;itis19.2percentattheStatelevel.InNew YorkCity,themarriagewithspousepresentrateforpeoplewithCognitivedisabilitiesis15.8percent–thelowestofanyregioninthestate.

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MarriageFamily—Recommendations

Family:Policymakersneedtoscrutinizelegislativeinitiativesandadministrativeprocedurestoensurethatgovernmentpoliciesarenotencouragingdiscriminationagainstpeoplewithdisabilitiesthatimpedethemfrommarryingandcreatingfamilies.

Peoplearelesslikelytobemarriedwithaspousepresentthanarepeoplewithoutdisabilities.Thereisa“spousegap”forpeoplewithdisabilitiesinNewYork City.

Sincemarriagetendstobeassociatedwithbettereconomichealth,lawsdiscouragingmarriageforpeoplewithdisabilitiesappeartobeparadoxical.Yet,forpeoplewithdisabilitieslivinginpoverty, theSupplementalSecurityIncome(SSI)programincludesamarriagepenalty. SSIis

aSocialSecurityAdministrationprogramforlow-incomepeoplewithdisabilitiesandseniors.Becauseofstrictincomeandresourcelimits,marriagecancausecouplestobecomeineligibleforSSI.WhentwoindividualsonSSImarry,theirincomeisreducedandtheirresourcelimitforsavedfundsshrinks.InNewYorkState,legislativethreatsissuedannuallytoeliminate“spousalrefusal”signaltocouplesthattheymaybeforcedtochoosebetweenmarriageandpublichealthinsurance.

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Transportation

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Transportation—PublicTransportation

Peoplewithdisabilitiesusepublictransportationatnearlythesamerateaspeoplewithoutdisabilities,exceptforthesubways.Alackofaffordableandaccessibletransportationimpedesaccesstowork.

Lackofaccessibletransportationisakeybarriertoemploymentforpersonswithdisabilities.Inmostupstatelocations,whererailisnotaswidelyused,privatevehiclesarethemainwaypeopletraveltowork.

Peoplewithdisabilitiesaresignificantlylesslikelytouseprivatevehicles,andagainaremorelikelytousethebus.InNewYork City, morethanhalfofallpeoplewithdisabilities(52.6%)traveltoworkbypublictransportation.However,peoplewithdisabilities(34.9)aremuchless likelytousethesubwaythanpeoplewithoutdisabilities(41.8%).Only30.5percentofpeoplewithAmbulatorydisabilitiesusethe subway, comparedto41.8%ofpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

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Transportation—WalktoWork

InManhattan,peoplewithdisabilitiesarelesslikelytowalktoworkthanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.ForpeoplewithAmbulatorydisabilities,the“walk”rateis8.1percentlessthanhalftherateofpeoplewithoutdisabilities.

InNew YorkCity, peoplewithdisabilitiesaremorelikelytowalktowork (9.2%)thanaretheircounterpartsinNew YorkState(6.9%)oracrossthenation(3.6%).

NewYorkCity’sworkingpeoplewithdisabilitiesarelesslikelytowalk(wheel)toworkthantheirnon-disabledcounterpartsinsomeboroughs.InManhattan,16.3percentofpeoplewithdisabilitieswalktowork;21.1percentofpeoplewithoutdisabilitieswalktowork.PeoplewithdisabilitiesinStatenIslandhaveawalktoworkrateof1.9%.

Type ofdisabilitymatters.InNewYork City,only8.1percentofpeoplewithAmbulatorydisabilitieswalk(wheel)towork,andonly8.7percentofpeoplewithVisiondisabilitieswalktowork.PeoplewithIndependentLivingdisabilitieshavea8.5percentrateofwalking(wheeling)towork.

Manhattan16.3%Disability

21.1%NoDisability

StatenIsland1.9%Disability

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Transportation—Recommendations

TheMTAmustmakeaccessibilityofthesubwaysystemaprioritytocureexistingdiscriminationbyrepairingtheelevators,markingtheplatformsandundertakingotherimprovementstomakeexisting“accessiblestations”workable.Theadditionofbusroutesmustconsiderexpandingservicetolow-incomecommunitiesthatarehometopeoplewithdisabilitiestoimproveaccesstoemployment.TheCityofNewYorkmustcuretheinaccessibilityofthebuiltenvironmentCitywidetoimprovethehealthofpeoplewithdisabilitiesinourcommunities.

Peoplewithdisabilitiesusepublictransportationtogettowork.However,peoplewith disabilities(34.87%)aremuchlesslikelytousethesubwaythanpeoplewithoutdisabilities(41.81%).Ridershipofthesubwayislowerstill (31%)forpeoplewithAmbulatorydisabilities,reflectingthelackofaccessibilityofNew YorkCity’ssubwaysystem.PeoplewithAmbulatorydisabilitiesarelesslikelytowalk/wheeltoworkthanpeoplewithoutdisabilities,reflectingthelackofcurbcutsandlackofcompliancewithstandardsforthem.

InaccessibilityofNew YorkCity’ssubwaytransportationand“rightofway”areakeybarriertoemploymentandfullcommunityintegrationforpeoplewithdisabilities.InNewYork City,thesubwaysystemisoverwhelminglyinaccessibletopeoplewithAmbulatorydisabilitiesbecauseoflackofelevators,brokenelevatorsandthegapbetweentheplatformandthesubwaycar.Itcanalsobedangerouswhenedgemarkingsareabsent,forpeoplewithVisiondisabilities.Aswell,itcanbeimpossibletocrossthestreet.

Whenlow-incomehousingisdeveloped,accesstotransportationforpeoplewithdisabilitiesmustbeconsideredtoensureaccesstobuslinesandaccessiblesubwaystationstofacilitateemployment.

Finally,justasconsiderationturnstohowthebuiltenvironmentencouragesordiscourageshealth,considerationmustbegiventohowtheinaccessibilityofthesidewalksandcrossingscontributetohealthdisparitiesandincreasethedangerstopedestrianswithdisabilities.

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Methodology

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Methodology

Accurateandreliablestatisticsarepowerfultoolsforfunders,policymakersandadvocates.Statisticsareusedtoframetheissues,monitorcurrentcircumstancesandprogress,judgetheeffectivenessofpoliciesandprograms,makeprojectionsaboutthefuture,andpredictthecostsofpotentialpolicychanges.Theestimationofaccurateandreliablestatisticsdependsonthecollectionofaccurateandreliabledata.

ThisreportprovidesstatisticsonthepopulationwithdisabilitiesinNewYorkState,thefiveboroughsofNewYork City,andallothercountiesintheState. Topicsincludepopulationsize, age,race/ethnicity,disabilitytype,educationalattainment,employment,income,healthinsurancecoverage,FoodStamp/SNAPreceipt,andpoverty.

DataSource

Thereareveryfewsourcesoflocal-levelstatisticsonthepopulationwithdisabilities.TheU.S.CensusBureaugeneratesdisabilitystatisticsusingitsAmericanCommunitySurvey(ACS).TheAmericanCommunitySurveyisalarge,continuousdemographicsurveyconductedbythe

U.S.CensusBureauthatprovidesaccurateandup-to-dateprofilesofAmerica’scommunitieseveryyear.Annualandmulti-yearestimatesofpopulationandhousingdataaregenerated forsmallareas,includingtractsandpopulationsubgroups.Thisinformationiscollectedbymailingquestionnairestoasampleofaddresses.Togeneratestatisticsforcountieswithsmallpopulations,theCensusBureaumustpooltogetherdatafrommultipleyears.Thedisabilitystatisticspresentedinthisreportarebasedonthe20125-yearpublic-releaseACSdatafile.

TheAmericanCommunitySurveyaskspeopletoidentifytheirdisabilitybyaskingwhethertheyhave:

HearingDifficulty:Deaforhavingseriousdifficultyhearing(DEAR).

VisionDifficulty:Blindorhavingseriousdifficultyseeing,evenwhenwearingglasses(DEYE).

CognitiveDifficulty:Becauseofaphysical,mental,oremotionalproblem,havingdifficultyremembering,concentrating,ormakingdecisions(DREM).

AmbulatoryDifficulty:Havingseriousdifficultywalkingorclimbingstairs(DPHY).

Self-CareDifficulty:Havingdifficultybathingordressing(DDRS).

IndependentLivingDifficulty:Becauseofaphysical,mental,oremotionalproblem,havingdifficultydoingerrandsalonesuchasvisitingadoctor’sofficeorshopping(DOUT).

Amajorlimitationofusingthepublic-releasefileisthatthedataisself-reported,meaningthatthosewhoareundiagnoseddonotcharacterizethemselvesashavingadisability, orthose whoareuncomfortablereportingadisabilitygenerallydonotfillinthisportionofthesurvey.

Thesequestionshavebeencriticizedasnotaccuratelyidentifyingcertainmentalhealth,speech,developmentalorlearningdisabilitiesorcertainneurologicalconditions.

58CenterforIndependenceoftheDisabled,NY

Methods

The2012ACSdataisarawdatasetcontainingthesurveyresponsesofindividuals.Thesedataareusedtogeneratestatisticsfordifferentsub-groups,likeindividualslivinginNewYork.

TheCensusBureaugroupspeopleintoPublic-UseMicrodataAreas(PUMAs),whereeachPUMAcontainsatleast100,000individuals,therebyprotectingtheanonymityofindividualsthatparticipateinthesurvey.TheCensusBureauleavesituptothestatestodefinePUMAs,andPUMAboundariesdonotnecessarilycoincidewithcountyboundaries.NewYorkhas143PUMAsand62counties.SomeofthePUMAswillcoverportionsofmorethanonecounty. Inordertoproducecounty-levelestimatesofthepopulationwithdisabilities,onemustassignthedisabilitypopulationsofthePUMAstothecounties.WhenaPUMAfitsentirelywithinacounty,thatPUMA’stotalnumberofpeoplewithdisabilitiesissimplyaddedtothecounty’stotalnumberofpeoplewithdisabilities.WhenaPUMArunsovercountybordersandissplitbetweenmorethanone county,eachcountyreceivesaportionofthePUMA’s totalnumberofpeoplewithdisabilities.

ItisimportanttorecognizethatthisapproachassumesthatthedistributionofpeoplewithdisabilitieswithinaPUMAisthesameasthedistributionofallpeoplewithinthatPUMA.Inaddition,thismethodassumesthatpeoplewithdisabilitiesaredistributedinthesamefashionaspeoplewithoutdisabilities.Thisassumptionmaynotbeentirelytrue,butitisthemoststraightforwardmethodtoestimatecounty-leveldisabilitystatistics.

Thisapproachisusedtoestimatethepopulationsforeachsubgroup,e.g.,thenumberofpeoplewithdisabilitiesthatarebelowthepovertylevelineachPUMAareallottedtotheirrespectivecountyusingthesamemethod.

County-levelratesandpercentageswerethencalculatedbasedonsubgroupcounts; e.g.,thepovertyrateforpeoplewithdisabilitiesinagivencountyisthenumberofpeoplewithdisabilitiesthatarebelowthepovertylineinthatcounty,dividedbythenumberofpeoplewithanydisability(ies)inthat county,andmultipliedby100.

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Acknowledgements

First,wethankthetensofthousandsofNewYorkerswithdisabilitieswhohavesharedtheirstorieswithusoverthepast25years.Manyhaveworkedwithusnotonlytotransformtheirownlives,butalsotobringaboutpositivechangeforall.

ThisworkwouldnotbepossiblewithoutthesteadfastsupportandstewardshipofCIDNY’sBoardofDirectors.Inparticular,wewouldliketoacknowledgetheassistanceandsupportof boardmemberJohnO’Neill,whoseadvice,expertisetousandworkwiththeUniversityofNewHampshirewereinvaluabletothisproject.

Wearedeeplygratefultoourgenerousdonorsandtothefoundationsthatsupportourwork.

ThankstoCIDNYstafffortheircommitmenttocreatingchangeforindividualsandsocietyandfortheskillsanddedicationtheybringtothisstruggle.

Wehavebeenwell-matchedinourcommitmenttoimprovingthelivesofpeoplewithdisabilitiesbytheverygiftedattorneyswhohavehelpedustransformthelandscapeandelectedofficialswho“getit.”

WehavebeenfortunatetoworkwithAndrewHoutenville,Ph.D.,DebraBrucker,Ph.D.andNicholasRollins,M.S.attheInstituteonDisabilityattheUniversityofNewHampshirewhoseexcellentskillinteasingoutthecategoriesanddatagaveusafoundationforthisreport.Andweacknowledgethatanyinadvertenterrorsinthisreportareourown.

Wearefortunatetobringourownvoicestoamovementthathassomanyimpressiveleaders.Wejoinourvoicestotheirs.

SusanM.Dooha,J.D.ExecutiveDirector

60CenterforIndependenceoftheDisabled,NY

AboutCIDNY

TheCenterforIndependenceoftheDisabled,NewYork’s(CIDNY)goalistoensurefullintegration,independenceandequalopportunityforallpeoplewithdisabilitiesbyremovingbarrierstothesocial,economic,culturalandciviclifeofthe community.

In2014,wehelpedover15,000peopletakecontroloftheirownlivesbyofferinginformation,educationandadvicetoindividualsstrugglingwithpoverty,housing,barrierstohealthcarecoverageandaccess,nutrition,education,andwork. Wehelpapplyforservicesandsupports,navigatecomplexsystemsandadvocateforconsumerswhenthingsgowrong. Weprovidetechnicalassistancetopublicandprivateentitiestoimprovetheirdisabilityliteracy.Weguidelawmakersonsoundpublicpoliciesthatwillfosterequalopportunity.

Inthelastfiveyears,CIDNYhasbeenpartytosuccessfullawsuitsthatseektoprotectthecivilrightsofpeoplewithdisabilities.OurexperttestimonyandevidencehelpedwinalawsuittoensuretherightsofpeoplewithdisabilitiestovoteindependentlyandtotravelthroughoutNewYorkCityinaccessibletransportation.Mostrecently,wewereplaintiffsandwonalandmarkdecisionthatdirectsNewYorkCitytoprovideanequalopportunityforpeoplewithdisabilitiestosurviveindisastersandemergenciesbyadheringtosevenspecificMemorandaofUnderstandinginplanningforthoseevents.Oursuccessintheselawsuitsisdue,inpart,tothedatawecollectandtheanalysisweprovideaboutpeoplewithdisabilitiesandtheaffectpublicpolicieshaveonourlives.Thisreportwillhelppolicymakers,funders,anddisabilityadvocatesaswecontinuetoensuretherightsofallpeoplewithdisabilities.

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Centerforindependenceofthedisabled,Newyork

CenterforIndependenceoftheDisabled,NewYork

Manhattan

Queens

TableofContents

Forward

ExecutiveSummary

ExecutiveSummary—Education

ExecutiveSummary—Employment

Employment:InNewYorkCity,thereisanemploymentrategapof41.2percentbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities.Thegapiswiderforpeoplewithsomedisabilities.Peoplewithdisabilitiesarelargelysegregatedintoverylow-wageoccupations.TheemploymentgapiswiderinNewYorkCitythanattheStateornationallevel.

ExecutiveSummary—IncomePoverty

IncomeandPoverty:IncomeislowerforpeoplewithdisabilitiesandpovertyishigherinNewYorkCitythanitisattheStateornationallevel.InNewYorkCity,thereisapovertygapof19.9percentbetweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilities.

ExecutiveSummary—HealthCoverageAccess

ExecutiveSummary—Food/Housing

Food

Food:PeoplewithdisabilitiesaremorereliantonSNAP(foodstamps)tohaveadequatenutritionthanarepeoplewithoutdisabilities.InNewYorkCity,workingpeoplewithdisabilitiesare8.7percentmorereliantonSNAPtomakeendsmeetthanarepeoplewithoutdisabilitiesinNewYorkCity.Thegapbetweenworking

Housing

ExecutiveSummary—MarriageFamily

MarriageandFamily:Peoplewithdisabilitiesarelesslikelythanpeoplewithoutdisabilitiestobemarriedandhaveaspousepresent.InNewYorkCity,the“spousegap”betweenpeoplewithandwithoutdisabilitiesis11.9percent.

ExecutiveSummary—Transportation

Transportation:TheinaccessibilityoftheNewYorkCitysubwaysystemhasresultedinatransportationgapforpeoplewithsomedisabilities.Atthesametime,thelackoforinadequacyofcurbcutsimpedessidewalkaccess.

ExecutiveSummary—Recommendations

Who ArePeoplewithDisabilities in New York

DisabilityRatesbyBorough

Brooklyn

DisabilityRatesbyKindofDisability

Somedisabilitiesaremorecommoninthepopulationthanothers.Mostpeoplewithdisabilitieshavemorethanonedisability.

DisabilityRatesbyAgeandGender

Womenhavehigherratesofmultipledisabilities.Peoplearemorelikelytohavemultipledisabilitiesastheyage—byage25,twoinfivepeoplewithdisabilitieshavemultipledisabilities.

Peopleofallageshavedisabilities.Peoplearemorelikelytohavedisabilitiesastheygetolder.

DisabilityRatesVarybyRaceandEthnicity

Education

Highschooldiplomaratesaremuchlowerforpeoplewithanykindofdisability.Peoplewithsomedisabilitiesfareworsethanothers.Womenwithdisabilitiesarelesslikelytohaveahighschooldiploma.

Peoplewithdisabilitiesarefarlesslikelytohaveacollegediplomathanpeoplewithoutdisabilities.Thegapineducationalattainmentwidensatthecollegelevel.

Employment

Incomeand Poverty

Health

Food