What it means to have a disability in Illinois and the United States

Illinois’ current, state-sponsored system is failing individuals with disabilities, their families, and overall society.

• Fewer than 100 residential openings are available statewide in Illinois.

• Over 30,000 individuals currently are living with caregivers over the age of 60. 

• Of the 1.2 million individuals with disabilities between the ages of 21-64 living in Illinois, only 8.5% are receiving residential or support services through the state.

In the United States, the reality for individuals with disabilities attaining a quality of life is no less grim.

• 85% of adult individuals with disabilities live at home as dependents.

• Only 14.4% of available funds go directly to individuals with disabilities who can then choose how to spend the money to arrange for the residential or support services that they need.

• 22% of employed people with disabilities report encountering job discrimination.

• 26% of adults with disabilities live in poverty with annual household incomes below $15,000 compared to 9% of their peers without disabilities.

For additional information, here are some web sites of organizations that advocate for people with disabilities:

• ARC • The Harris Poll • The State of the States in Developmental Disabilities Report