Did we get the math wrong on disability statistics?
During a recent disability and accessibility conference, I heard the recurring statistics that left me wondering about their accuracy.The heart of the matter
Delving into the numbers, it becomes apparent that there is a discrepancy that warrants scrutiny. Let us introduce an alternative perspective:
The World Population in 2023 (at mid-year, according to U.N. estimates) isWhen considering these demographic components, we find that a substantial 59.6% of the global population falls into categories statistically more prone to experience disability at some point in their lives. For women, this can be a recurring reality, while aging often brings unforeseen health challenges for the elderly.My perspective as a woman
As a woman, mother, and middle-aged person in my late 40s, I have encountered a personal struggle with undiagnosed medical issues from my teenage years to becoming a childbearing woman. Despite the limitations these conditions imposed, I never saw myself as disabled. I, like countless other women, continued to persevere, influenced by societal norms and a belief that enduring such challenges was part of being a woman. But I was disabled and I lived with my disabilities without even realizing what it meant to be disabled.
A similar story unfolds for the elderly. Many able-bodied individuals, after more than six decades of life, find themselves slowed down, experiencing memory lapses, and grappling with physical decline. Society often attributes these changes to old age and neglects the potential presence of underlying health conditions.
As for the men, so very little is known about their struggles. Men are often expected to have it all together at all times that it becomes very difficult for them to talk about disability openly. Especially if the man is the breadwinner of the family, disclosing a disability could lead to consequences in a work environment and perceived as a weakness.
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