1 in 4 American Adults Have a Disability

A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report says 25 percent of American adults have a serious disability, reports Politico Pro . Mobility, cognition, and the ability to live independently are the most common classes of disability, and they are most prevalent among older people, women, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and residents of Southern states. Furthermore, the percentage of adults with a disability climbs as their annual income decreases. Disabilities involving mobility are five times more frequent among people ages 45 to 64 living below the federal poverty level compared to those with incomes at twice the poverty level. "At some point in their lives, most people will either have a disability or know someone who has one," says the CDC's Coleen Boyle. "Learning more about people with disabilities in the United States can help us better understand and meet their health needs."