Definition of Disability
These estimates use the U.S. Census Bureau's definition of disability status as employed in the CPS and ACS programs. These surveys rely on respondents to self-report disability based on several specific questions pertaining to disability status as defined by risk of a participation limitation due to a functional impairment.
These questions do not reflect all forms of disability, and as such are not an estimate of the total size of the disability population. The total population implied by these monthly estimates will typically be smaller than that derived from other, more comprehensive definitions of disability status.
In the ACS and CPS questionnaires, persons are categorized as having a disability if the survey respondent answered “Yes” to any of the following questions about persons in their household:
- Is anyone deaf or does anyone have serious difficulty hearing?
- Is anyone blind or does anyone have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
- Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does anyone have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
- Does anyone have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs?
- Does anyone have difficulty dressing or bathing?
- Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does anyone have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
Please see this U.S. Census publication for information on the process used to develop these questions, and see the BLS Frequently Asked Questions for more information on the CPS disability data and its limitations in general.