Disability Report

"The Needs of Individuals With Disabilities in Oklahoma", highlights the key findings from the 2001-2002 Oklahoma Disability Survey (ODS). The ODS was a statewide survey commissioned by the Oklahoma Office of Disability Concerns (ODC)(formerly Office of Handicapped Concerns (OHC)) that solicited information on the economic, medical, therapeutic, social, and vocational needs of individuals with disabilities in Oklahoma. Over 8,000 surveys were distributed to: (1) individuals with disabilities; (2) close relatives, including parents, of individuals with disabilities; (3) personal caregivers for individuals with disabilities; and (4) directors and presidents of organizations that provide services to individuals with disabilities. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, an individual is considered to have a "disability" if s/he has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.

The results of this project will be presented to the Oklahoma Legislature and the findings will be used by state and local agencies to design policies and programs that effectively meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.

The Annual Disability Statistics Compendium is a publication of statistics about people with disabilities and the government programs which serve them. It is modeled after the U.S. Department of Commerce’s annual Statistical Abstracts of the United States. The Compendium is designed to serve as a reference guide to government publications. At the bottom of each table, the source of data appearing in each table is presented. These referenced sources contain additional statistical information about the ways the data were collected and the statistics were generated. Each year, the Compendium reflects the statistics published over the year.

As in previous years, the fifth annual Compendium provides national, state-level statistics and monthly time-trend statistics published by federal agencies. Topics covered in this year’s Compendium include:

• Population Size
• Prevalence of Disability
  
• Labor Force Participation
  
• Unemployment
• Employment
  
• Poverty
• Earnings From Work
• Enrollment in Education
• Educational Attainment
• Self-Reported Health Status
• Health Behaviors
• Health Care Coverage
• Supplemental Security Income
• Social Security Disability Insurance
• Special Education
• Vocational Rehabilitation

ALSO: Alternative formats and assistance in interpreting statistics and locating additional statistics is available via our toll-free number, 866-538-9521, or by e-mail, disability.statistics@unh.edu.