Disability News, Benefits, and Health Resources
Seventy million American adults live with a disability. Another 1.3 billion people worldwide (about the combined population of Europe and North America) share that experience, roughly 16 percent of the global population. Disabled World (DW), also known to many readers as Disability World, reports on the policies, research, benefits, and assistive technology that shape their lives. Coverage centers on the United States: Social Security and SSI payments, Medicare and Medicaid rules, accessibility law, and medical research relevant to American readers. International stories appear where they intersect with American policy or practice. Disabled World has been publishing since 2004 under the banner Towards Tomorrow. Learn more about us.
"Disability is the only minority group that anyone can join at any time." - a widely shared saying in the disability community, often attributed to American comedian Josh Blue.
Did You Know:
- 1 - Autism diagnoses have risen dramatically: about 1 in 31 eight-year-old children (3.2 percent) were identified with autism in 2022 CDC surveillance data, up from 1 in 36 in 2020 and just 1 in 150 when the CDC first began tracking it among children born in the early 1990s.
- 2 - Disability rises sharply with age: about 8.7 percent of adults aged 18 to 29 report a disability, climbing to 43.9 percent among adults aged 65 and older.
- 3 - Childhood disability tracks closely with family income - 18 percent of U.S. children in families below the poverty level report a disability, compared with 11 percent of children in families at or above 200 percent of the poverty level. View more Disability Statistics.
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Popular Pages
- Disability Loans and Grants: Financial assistance programs available for low-income families, seniors, and disabled students.
- Famous People with Disabilities: Lists of well-known people with various disabilities and conditions who contributed to society.
- Awareness Ribbon Colors: Guide to awareness ribbon colors for health, medical conditions, disability, and other causes.
- Adult Height to Weight Chart: Ideal weight-to-height ratio for adult females and males.
- Child to Teen Height to Weight Ratio Charts: Average height-to-weight ratios for children and teens organized by age.
Recent Disability News and Information
Opera Praktikos Premieres ASL and Bel Canto La Sonnambula
Opera Praktikos premieres an interabled La Sonnambula merging American Sign Language with Bellini bel canto opera at National Sawdust in Brooklyn on November 18. Published: 24 Sep 2026.
Choice Landing: First Kelsey Certified Housing in Kentucky
Pillar breaks ground on Choice Landing, a 72-unit Kelsey Certified independent living community for adults with disabilities in Oldham County, Kentucky. Published: 24 Sep 2026.
FDA Panel Backs Galleri Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test
FDA advisory panel voted in favor of GRAIL's Galleri multi-cancer early detection test for adults 50 and older, supporting its safety and benefit-risk profile. Published: 24 Sep 2026.
Mississippi L.O.V.E. Documentary Series Honors Disability
Mississippi L.O.V.E., a new documentary series, shares the stories of people with disabilities, families, caregivers, and support services across Mississippi. Published: 23 Sep 2026.
Stephen Hawking, Disability, and the Limits of Motivation
Stephen Hawking viewed through decision architecture, showing how assistive technology and support systems extend human agency when motivation meets hard limits. Published: 23 Sep 2026.
Second Look Laws and Disability-Inclusive Sentence Review
The Sentencing Project urges disability-inclusive second look laws so courts can review extreme sentences of people whose disabilities shaped their case. Published: 21 Sep 2026.
Newly Updated Pages
Wheelchair Accessible Construction for Homes and Business: Wheelchair accessible construction for homes and businesses, including ADA compliant ramps, grab bars, handrails, and shower seating for safety and independence.
Accessible Home Design Tips for Aging in Place Safely: Accessible home design tips for aging in place, covering zero-step entries, ramps, barrier-free showers, grab bars, and kitchen changes that aid independence.
Fair Housing Act Accessibility Rules for Multifamily Homes: Fair Housing Act accessibility requirements for new multifamily buildings call for HUD-certified building code language, safe harbor codes, and fair enforcement.
Senior Home Safety and Accessibility Tips for Aging in Place: Practical home accessibility and safety tips for seniors and people with disabilities, covering bathrooms, stairs, ramps, kitchens, flooring, and doorways.