NASET News Alert

Census, Family and Disabilities

May 26, 2006

U.S. Census Bureau Releases Data Report on Families and Disabilities

July 29, 2005--Newly released Census 2000 data showed that approximately 20.9 million American families had at least one member with a disability and that they differed in important ways from other families. Disability can be measured in a variety of ways, as described in the first section of the census report. The remainder of the report presents estimates of disability prevalence in American families using the measures available from Census 2000, discusses the general economic wellbeing of families with members with a disability, and examines differences across demographic groups and geographical regions. It is based on data from the Census 2000 long form, which includes all the questions on the short form plus additional detailed questions relating to the social, economic, and housing characteristics of each individual and household.2 Estimates in this report are limited to families and people in families. To view the report in its entirety, visit:

http://www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/censr-23.pdf