Disability Statistics

Recommended disability data resources for health researchers and advocates:

Annual Disability Statistics Collection

The Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, Annual Report on People With Disabilities, the Build Your Own Statistics tool, and infographics gather disability statistics published by many federal agencies into one place.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

BRFSS is the nation’s premier system of health-related telephone surveys that collect state data about U.S. residents regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services. BRFSS now collects data in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories. This system completes more than 400,000 adult interviews each year, making it the largest continuously conducted health survey in the world.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

BLS is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency in the broad field of labor economics and statistics and serves as part of the U.S. Federal Statistical System. BLS collects, calculates, analyzes, and publishes data essential to the public, employers, researchers, and government organizations.

Census Bureau

The Census Bureau is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Their mission is to serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy.

Center for Disability Health and Wellness (CDHW)

The University of Michigan Center for Disability Health and Wellness develops and applies innovative research, clinical, and educational strategies to address inequities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes experienced by individuals with physical, sensory and developmental disabilities across the lifespan. Learn more about CDHW research.

Center for Research on Disability

The Center for Research on Disability at the University of New Hampshire is a trusted source for research and statistics on the community participation of people with disabilities, examining key topics like employment, public programs, health, transportation, education, and more.

Disability and Diversity Statistics

Labor and employment data related to disability, hosted by the Cornell University Library. Includes:

The Data & Reproduction Archive, housed within the Cornell Center for Social Science (CCSS). This extensive data collection emphasizes political and social behavior, demography, economics, and health.

The DisabilityStatistics.org website, produced by the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability in the Cornell University ILR School. This site condenses several data sources into a single, user-friendly, accessible, Internet resource, and provides essential background information on key issues related to disability statistics. Free to register.

Disability Inclusion Blueprint

The Disability Inclusion Blueprint is the rebranded and updated version of the previous NOD Employment Tracker™ survey. It’s a streamlined, customized tool designed to measure and enhance disability inclusion across the employee lifecycle. Hosted by the National Organization on Disability (NOD).

Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD)
IDHD includes the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDD) for the State of Illinois. Serves as the research and public service arm of the Department of Disability and Human Development (DHD) in the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences. Conducts research and disseminates information about disability to academicians, policymakers, businesses, government agencies, service providers and the general public.

Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR)

The ICDR mission is to promote coordination and cooperation among federal departments and agencies conducting disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research programs—including those that relate to assistive technology research, and research that incorporates the principles of universal design. Their site contains ICDR activities, disability research news, ICDR reports, and general federal disability research resources.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

JAN is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues. JAN is a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy/ODEP.

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics is the nation’s principal health statistics agency. They collect, analyze, and share data and statistics to guide programs and policies that improve the health of people across the United States. They share data, statistics, and analysis in multiple ways, including reports, dashboards, and data files. Upcoming NCHS data releases.

National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM)

The NCRTM is the central clearinghouse for vocational rehabilitation (VR) information for individuals with disabilities. Offers the VR and education communities an opportunity to contribute new knowledge to their specific fields and gain visibility for their work. Funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).

National Information and Reporting System (NIRS)
NIRS is the national, web-based data reporting and retrieval system for the AUCD Network (Assocation of University Centers on Disabilities). This is a tool for accessing and promoting the work of university-based centers and programs on disabilities and special health care needs to a wide array of constituents.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

NIOSH is the federal institute responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. Houses the National Health Interview Survey. A project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within HHS.

NIDILRR is the federal government’s primary disability research organization. NIDILRR is part of the Administration for Community Living. Explore their Data, Research and Issue Briefs.

National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD)

Funded by NIDILRR, NSHD is an on-going survey of adults with disabilities that has so far been fielded five times: 2018, 2019/2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023/2024. It is scheduled to be fielded again in spring of 2025. NSHD is now able to assess the experiences of LGBTQ+ people with disabilities. They are also working with Washington State University to understand the adverse health effects of medical ableism on people with disabilities. And in collaboration with the Community Living Policy Center at Brandeis University, NSHD is helping document respondent experiences with using personal assistance services. Housed at the Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies at the University of Kansas.

Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics(ORES)

ORES is the Social Security Administration’s source for statistics on the OASDI and SSI programs and the earnings of the working and beneficiary populations. The Office of Retirement and Disability Policy (ORDP) is the principal advisor to the Commissioner of Social Security on major policy issues.

Spinal Cord Injury Model System

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Model System (UAB-SCIMS) maintains this Information Network resource to promote knowledge in the areas of research, health and quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries, their families, and SCI-related professionals.