Disabilities can take many forms, and they are all very important and can drastically impact a person’s life. One of the most detrimental types of disabilities, when considering the overall change it will add to a person’s life, is one that limits mobility. How common is this?
Let’s start by looking at disabilities in the general population. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 26% of the American population is dealing with some type of disability. That is just slightly more than one out of every four individuals. This shows just how common disability is and underscores why people need to know what legal options they have. Overall, it means that about 61 million U.S. residents have a disability.
Of those 61 million, mobility disabilities impact 13.7% of them. For the sake of the study, the CDC linked that 13.7% to those who had “serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.” This does raise the question of how many people have mobility disabilities but are still able to do these activities. It’s important to remember that disability impacts everyone differently and no two cases are exactly the same.
Regardless, it is clear that these significant mobility challenges affect millions of people in the United States, with more joining these ranks every year. In the study, mobility issues were the single largest category that they listed. This type of disability may make it impossible to work and could bring on many costs in terms of medical care or long-term care, so it’s crucial to know what options you have and how to address your potential need for benefits. If you need assistance with a Social Security Disability claim, find out more today.