Disability Communities

2017 American Community Survey Estimates

The American Community Survey (ACS) is an on-going nationwide survey providing communities with current information on demographic, social, economic and housing characteristics. Fully implemented in 2005 as part of the Census Bureau’s re-engineered census program, the ACS collects and analyzes data yearly instead of every ten years.

According to the ACS, in San Antonio, an estimated:

  • 232,627 individuals (15.6%) reported one or more types of disability.
  • 59,064 individuals reported having a hearing disability.
  • 74,480 individuals reported having a vision disability.
  • 87,518 individuals reported having a cognitive disability.
  • 109,600 individuals reported having an ambulatory disability.
  • 42,997 individuals reported having a self-care disability.
  • 74,358 individuals reported having an independent living disability.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Definitions

The ACS identifies people with disabilities by asking respondents questions pertaining to the following areas of functioning:

Hearing
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing.
Vision
Blind or serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses.
Cognitive
Serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Ambulatory
Serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Self-Care
Difficulty dressing or bathing.
Independent Living
Serious difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping, due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey

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