ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Note: The following excerpt comes courtesy of our friend NYSILC’s Brad Williams.
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The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) conducted a statewide needs assessment in 2012. What it revealed was alarming. It showed several unacceptable trends for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈers with disabilities, none of which seem to be on anyone’s agenda to address. And these trends are not isolated to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. The major gaps are taken from the Annual Disability Compendium and apply to every state and the country.
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Percentages vary but are within the same range.
- TheÌýemployment rateÌýfor ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈers with disabilities (ages 18-64) is a mere 31.3%. This means only 31 out of 100 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈers living with disabilities are employed! In NYS there is a 40.8% gap between those with and without disabilities who are employable. ().
- TheÌýpoverty rateÌýfor ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈers with disabilities (ages 18-64) is an astounding 30.2% – more than twice that of persons in the State without a disability. ().
- TheÌýmedian earningsÌýfor ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈers with disabilities (16 or older) are $11,769 less compared for a person without a disability. ().
- TheÌýobesity rateÌýfor ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈers with disabilities (ages 18 and older) is 34.9%, resulting in a gap of 13.7% compared to adults without disabilities in the State.
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