Social barriers are related to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live,
learn, work and age – or social determinants of health – that can contribute to
decreased functioning among people with disabilities. Here are examples of social
barriers:
• People with disabilities are far less likely to be employed. The unemployment rate
in 2012 for people with disabilities was more than 1 in 10 (13.9%) compared to less
than 1 in 10 (6.0%) for those without disabilities.
• Adults age 25 years and older with disabilities are less likely to have completed high
school compared to their peers without disabilities (23.5% compared to 11.1%).
• People with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty compared to people without
disabilities (21.6% compare to 12.8%).
• Children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence
than children without disabilities.