According to the American Community Survey (ACS), conducted annually by the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2015, the number of people with disabilities in the United States was 12.6% of the total population. According to the World Health Organization, published in the format of the World Report on Disability in 2011, there were more than one billion people with disabilities in the world at that time, which is about 15% of the world’s population. According to these studies, the prevalence of disability varies by income level, age, and gender around the world. Thus, low- and middle-income countries have a higher prevalence of disability compared to high-income countries. The incidence of disability is higher among people aged 65 and older than among those of working age. The risk of disability is higher among women than men.
The WHO predicts that the prevalence of disability will increase due to the aging of the population, the increased risk of disability among older people and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental disorders.
Although the prevalence of disability is very high, it is difficult to obtain an accurate estimate of the number of people with disabilities due to cultural differences in the definition, perception, and measurement of disability across countries. It is necessary to consider the category of disability as a complex and heterogeneous group of people who are largely united only by disability. This presents a difficult theoretical problem, since the accuracy of the definition of the type of disability can be affected by the perception of disability itself in society. Parental fear of stigmatization and isolation of children with disabilities can also distort the statistics. In addition, different countries use different methods to estimate the prevalence of disability. Low-income countries often have low prevalence rates because of limited research resources and certain characteristics of the estimation methodology. Cultural perceptions of disability sometimes harm people with disabilities by suggesting that they are of lesser value to society and are inferior citizens destined to struggle with insurmountable difficulties in their attempts to take their place in life.
Protecting Rights
Unfortunately, as a result of the barriers and discrimination that people with disabilities face, they are forced to stand up for their rights on their own. The self-advocacy movement for people with disabilities began in Sweden in the 1960s, when a group of people with intellectual disabilities compiled a wish list for service providers on how they would like these services to be provided. It was unprecedented at the time, but it’s no surprise today. Independent advocacy helps people with disabilities better understand their rights and responsibilities, protect their interests, and make their own decisions about their lives. It empowers them to make their voices heard and to challenge society’s low expectations. By advocating for themselves, people with disabilities get what they need and deserve. Thanks to the self-advocacy movement, the quality of life for people with disabilities has improved dramatically. The initiative has taken on an international scale in the format of the civil rights movement for people with developmental disabilities.