Are Disabilities Common among Children and Youth?
• According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 5.2 million American youth, ages five through 20 had some long-term physical, mental, or emotional disabling condition.[1] • In the United States, nearly one million youth, ages three through 17 are deaf or hard of hearing.[2] • Each year, about 5,000 infants and toddlers and up to 1,500 preschoolers are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Experts also estimate that two of every 1,000 infants born in this country has cerebral palsy.[3] • In the United States, nearly 94,000 school age children are blind. Of these, nearly 11,000 are both deaf and blind.[4] • According to experts, about 7,800 Americans suffer spinal cord injuries each year—most (82 percent) occur among males and most frequently at age 19.
