How many students have disabilities? On most campuses, this is not an easy question to answer. Typically, the only students with disabilities counted are those who specifically request accommodations. In a national survey of a representative sample of undergraduate students, six percent reported having a disability.¹ The percentage of students who request accommodations is typically much lower. Another study indicated that about three percent of all students requested accommodations or enrolled with the disability support services office.² These figures indicate that only half of the students with disabilities are seeking accommodations.

Age-Related Data

Statistics show that about 20% of the total U.S. population has a disability. A breakdown of these statistics into age groups reveal that the percentage of people with disabilities increases with age. Among 65 to 79 year olds, for example, almost half (47%) have a disability. A campus with more non-traditional students is likely to have more students with disabilities than a campus with a population that is predominantly 18 to 22 year olds. ³

Types of Disabilities Represented

In a 1998 study of freshmen students with disabilities, the disabilities reported by the largest number of students were learning disabilities—reported by 40% of the students who participated.⁴ The other disabilities represented in the study were speech-related disabilities, 5%; orthopedic disabilities, 8%; health-related disabilities, 19%; partially sighted or blind, 13%; hearing disabilities, 11%; and in the category of "other," 21%. (see chart.)