SALT LAKE CITY – The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute is preparing a new report looking at Utahns who suffer from disabilities.
The institute’s findings are eye-opening, and one that industry research director Laura Summers is keen to spread.
“Overall, national surveys estimate that between 12% and 25% of adults in Utah have a disability, which is a significant percentage of the adult population,” Summers said.
The institute found that 12.9 percent of Utah adults have a cognitive disability and 9.2 percent have a mobility disorder.
When examining disability rates by ethnicity, we found that the majority of people with disabilities are Native American and Alaskan, followed by African American and Pacific Islander.
Regardless of ethnicity, adults with disabilities in Utah face unique challenges, including educational hurdles, housing costs and health issues.
Thirty-three percent of disabled Utah residents report being in poor to fair health. As of 2021, 13.5% of them report being uninsured.
Nearly the same number reported spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs.
Additionally, compared to Utahns without disabilities, people with disabilities are less likely to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Summers said previous reports hadn’t included the hard details, and he hopes the final report will reach policymakers soon.
“This is part of a larger report that will provide much more detailed information,” she said, adding that the institute “want to provide information so people know what policies need to be put in place to address these issues.”
The institute is continuing work on a larger report.
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