People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the United States. According to a 2018 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four American adults (27 percent) has a disability of some type that can affect their lives in various ways (i.e., caring for themselves and making decisions). This population includes both apparent (i.e., mobility) and non-apparent conditions (i.e., chronic pain, autism, and mental health). That statistic is the same as saying 61 million people. If comparing the United States to cake or pie, the number of citizens with disabilities is equal to a quarter of the delicious dessert.
When someone ages, the rate of acquiring a disability increases because of higher injury risk or changes to that person's mind and body. As demonstrated by the above statistics, having a disability is a large part of the human experience that cuts across various other cultures (i.e., race, LGBTQ+, gender, etc.). However, people with such conditions also fall into a historically underrepresented community. This statement is especially true when it comes to programs and policies.
Health care is a prime example of how the disability community often gets overlooked by professionals. The same report from the CDC mentioned in the intro also highlights that working-age disabled adults encounter multiple barriers, including: