- From: Gretchen Lowerison <gretchen@hwg.org>
- Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2001 14:04:05 -0400
- To: w3c-wai-eo@w3.org
A little better than 1984 ;-) This is a pdf file. I have opted not to attach it to this message but instead decided to include the URL. http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/85F0033MIE/free.htm Here is most of the first page: Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Canadians with Disabilities The population with disabilities make up a substantial proportion of the Canadian population. In 1991, there were an estimated 4.2 million Canadians with disabilities, representing 16% of the total population. Not surprisingly, disabilities are most common among seniors. In 1991, 46% of all persons aged 65 and over had disabilities, compared with 27% of people aged 55-64, 14% of those aged 35- 54, 8% of those aged 15-34, and 7% of children under age 15. The pro-portion of seniors with disabilities also increases with age. That year, 84% of people aged 85 and over had disabilities, while the figures were 57% for those aged 75-84 and 37% among 65-74-year- olds. As well, among seniors, women are more likely than men to have disabilities, especially at older age ranges. That year, for example, 86% of women aged 85 years and over had disabilities, compared with 80% of men in this age range. Nature of disabilities Mobility and/or agility disabilities are the most commonly reported disabilities. In 1991, 59% of all persons with disabilities aged 15 and over reported a mobility disability; that is, they were limited in the ability to walk, move from room to room, carry an object a short distance, or stand for long periods. At the same time, 54% were limited in the ability to bend, dress or undress, get in or out of bed, grasp or handle objects, or reach or cut food; 30% were limited in the ability to hear what was being said in a normal conversation even when wearing a hearing aid; 14% were limited in the ability to see properly even when wearing correc-tive glasses; 7% had a speaking disability, while 30% reported other conditions, including limitation because of a learning disability, mental health condition, mental handicap, or because of labelling by others. Severity of disability The largest share of adults with disabilities have a mild disability, although a substantial proportion have severe disabilities. In 1991, 47% of all persons aged 15 and over with disabilities were consi- dered to have a mild disability, while 32% had a moderate disability and 22% had a severe disability. That year, 817,300 Canadians aged 15 and over, 4% of the total population in that age range, had disabilities that were considered severe. Older persons with disabilities are more likely than their younger counterparts to have severe dis-abilities. In 1991, 32% of persons with disabilities aged 65 and over had severe disabilities, compared with 20% of those aged 55-64, 15% of those aged 35-54 and 9% of individuals aged 15-34. In fact, people aged 65 and over made up almost 60% of all Canadians aged 15 and over with severe disabilities. Provincial differences There is considerable variation in the prevalence of disabilities among the provinces. In 1991, more than one in five Nova Scotia residents (21%) had a disability, the largest proportion in any province. Disability rates were also relatively high in Saskatchewan, where 19% of the population had disability, as did 18% of residents of both New Brunswick and Manitoba, 17% of those in each of Alberta, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia, and 16% in Ontario. In contrast, just 12% of Quebec residents and only 10% of those in Newfoundland had disabilities. - Gretchen If you cannot locate the PDF file and you would like me to send it to you just drop me a line.
Received on Wednesday, 20 June 2001 14:05:01 UTC