Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Disability Status
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Disability Status by County, New Jersey, 2023
Why Is This Important?
Studies have found that people with disabilities are less likely to get preventive health care services they need to stay healthy.^1^ In addition, people with disabilities may have trouble finding a job, going to school, or getting around outside their homes.[https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2015/people-with-a-disability-less-likely-to-have-completed-a-bachelors-degree.htm ^2^]
Definition
Percent of the total population that has a disability
Data Source
American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau(https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | Estimated number of civilian noninstitutionalized persons with a disability |
| Denominator: | Estimated total civilian noninstitutionalized population |
How Are We Doing?
About one-tenth of New Jersey residents have one or more disabilities such as hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living difficulties. Disability rates increase with age. The rate of disability is consistently higher among women than among men but this may be due, in part, to the longer average life span of women compared to men. Persons with a disability are less likely to have a bachelor's degree and more likely to be below the poverty level.
How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
In 2018-2023, New Jersey had a lower proportion of residents under age 65 years with a disability than the nation as a whole.[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/NJ,US/PST045223 ^3^]
What Is Being Done?
The New Jersey Department of Human Services' [https://nj.gov/humanservices/dds/home/index.shtml Division of Disability Services] (DDS) focuses on enhancing health, education, employment, recreation opportunities, and social engagement for New Jersey residents with disabilities. DDS aims to build meaningful relationships with other state and local organizations, have a seat at every table, ensure representation in policy and decision-making while working for greater access, equity and inclusion for all New Jersey residents with disabilities.
Available Services
New Jersey Department of Human Services, [https://nj.gov/humanservices/dds/home/index.shtml Division of Disability Services] serves as the single point of entry for people seeking disability-related information in New Jersey.
More Resources
U.S. Census Bureau, [https://data.census.gov/cedsci/ data.census.gov] U.S. Census Bureau, [https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0400000US34, New Jersey Profile] Healthy People 2030: [https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/people-disabilities People With Disabilities]
Footnote References
1. Marrocco, A. & Krouse, H.J. (2017). Obstacles to Preventive Care for Individuals with Disability: Implications for Nurse Practitioners. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 29(5), 282-293. DOI: 10.1002/2327-6924.12449 2. [https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2015/people-with-a-disability-less-likely-to-have-completed-a-bachelors-degree.htm People with a disability less likely to have completed a bachelor's degree]. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2015). 3. [https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/NJ,US/PST045223 Census Bureau Quick Facts], accessed 2/9/24.