NCDDR 2001 Survey Report - Table of Contents
Who are the consumers?
Basic demographic data, including gender, age, racial or ethnic category, disability category, geographic locale, and current employment status, were provided by the consumers. The majority of the consumers were female, and 52 percent of the consumers reported they were 30-49 years old.
Data were gathered to learn more about the information needs of consumers with disabilities from different racial or ethnic backgrounds. The respondents were asked to self-identify from five major racial or ethnic categories as well as "mixed background" and "other." The majority of respondents selected a discrete category for self-identification. Of the few who selected "mixed background" and "other," most indicated a mixed category consisting of "White" and "American Indian/Alaskan Native," "Black/African American," or "Hispanic/Latino."
Consumers were asked to indicate which category best describes their disability. Of seven major categories provided, the majority indicated "physical/orthopedic disability," while six percent indicated "speech or language disability." Responses for "other" disability varied and some examples of the responses included diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, lupus, depression, cerebral palsy, and fibromyalgia.
The majority of consumers were from "urban/suburban" areas. Twenty-eight percent of the consumers reported they were "employed full-time," while 23% reported they were "unemployed and not seeking employment." Written in responses for the "other" employment status included full-time student; receiving Social Security (SS), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); disabled and unable to work; retired; self-employed; and stay-at-home parent of a child with a disability.
