Disability Facts and Statistics

 

• 2.2 million Australians of working age have a disability. 

• A disability is any condition that restricts a person's mental, sensory or mobility functions. It could be caused by accident, trauma, genetics or disease.

• A disability may be temporary or permanent, total or partial, lifelong or acquired, visible or invisible.

• 88% of disabilities are invisible.

• 17.7% of Australians will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives.

• In 2003, 53.2% of people with a disability participated in the labour force compared to 80.6% of people without a disability.

• The Disability Discrimination Act (1992) requires employers to provide adjustments whenever it is necessary, possible and reasonable to do so.

• These adjustments could be any administrative, physical, or procedural accommodations made in a workplace to enable a person with a disability to work effectively, such as an enlarged computer screen or flexible hours.

• Australian research indicates that 86% of all such adjustments cost less than $500 and most can be implemented quickly. Government financial assistance may also be available to employers in some cases.

• Percentage of Australians with a disability in 1981 - 15%

• Percentage of Australians with a disability in 1998 - 19%

• Percentage of Australians with a disability in 2003 - 20%

• 3.2 million people say they are restricted in carrying out one or more daily activities, such as self care, mobility and communication.

• 88% of disabilities are invisible.

• Percentage of people aged 15-64 with disabilities employed in 1998 - 53%

• Percentage of people aged 15-64 without disabilities employed in 1998 - 80%

• People with disabilities have disposable income of $26 billion per annum.