Physical Disability

Physical disabilities encompass a wide range of illness and disabling conditions that can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired in the course of the life span (illness or accident). With medical advancements, improved rehabilitation following acquisition of the physical disability, and advanced technology, more individuals are not only surviving the illness or accident that leads to a physical disability but also living active and productive lives well into late adulthood. These medical advances have resulted in a larger percentage of the population in the United States living with a physical disability. For example, in 2014, over 17.1 million adults living outside of institutions were unable to walk over a quarter of a mile due to a mobility impairment. Also in 2014, 74.8 million adults ...