As the population ages, the number of blind adults increases.
Americans are living longer than ever before. The policy implications of blindness in the United States are staggering. Some of the findings support assumptions that have been made about blind adults, while other findings highlight previously unrecognized needs of this very important group of Americans. With the support of the Aid Association for the Blind of Washington, D.C., we have summarized the information into this report. The National Center for Policy Research (CPR) For Women & Families used the NHIS data to conduct the first comprehensive statistical analysis of data on blind adults. The federal government, however, never used the data to provide information to advocates or policy makers about the daily lives of legally blind adults and children. They interviewed thousands of adults and children with disabilities in 19, including 779 legally blind adults representing 993,766 non-institutionalized adults ages 18 and older nationwide, and 52 children representing 65,296 non-institutionalized legally blind children ages 5 to 17 nationwide.
In an effort to learn more about Americans with disabilities, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decided that the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) would be used to gather information about men, women, and children with disabilities living all across the country. This report is based on the first study conducted on a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized legally blind adults in America. In fact, no nationally representative study had ever been done until very recently. It is therefore surprising how little research has been done to learn more about the lives of legally blind adults in contemporary American society. Blind men and women have made important contributions to society - as teachers, philosophers, and artists. Exactly where are they living? How many are living in poverty or near poverty? How is their health? What programs and services are they using, and are their needs being met? What are their daily lives like? Are there regional differences that we need to be aware of to improve policies for adults who are blind?Įven the earliest civilizations recognized the unique needs of people who are blind. However, there are many things we have not known about blind adults in our nation. We know that many are older and increasing numbers live alone. Policy Issues ……………………………………………………….16 IntroductionĪpproximately one million legally blind adults live in the United States. Why Study Adults who are Blind?…………………………………3ĭemographic, Household, Health and Economic Characteristics……6Ĭauses of Blindness and Current Health Status…………………7įamily Income and Education.
BLIND PEOPLE PDF
The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the views of the funding organizations.Ĭlick this link for the PDF version of this report: Blind Adults in America: Their Lives and Challenges Table of Contents The report is based on a statistical analysis that was funded by Guide Dogs for the Blind and The Seeing Eye. This report was made possible by a grant from the Aid Association for the Blind of the District of Columbia. Washington, DC: National Research Center for Health Research. Blind Adults in America: Their Lives and Challenges. Information from this report may be quoted with proper acknowledgment and without written authorization. A Report from the National Research Center for Health ResearchĬopyright 2004.
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