Disability News, Benefits, and Health Resources
Seventy million American adults live with a disability. Another 1.3 billion people worldwide (about the combined population of Europe and North America) share that experience, roughly 16 percent of the global population. Disabled World (DW) reports on the policies, research, benefits, and assistive technology that shape their lives. Coverage centers on the United States: Social Security and SSI payments, Medicare and Medicaid rules, accessibility law, and medical research relevant to American readers. International stories appear where they intersect with American policy or practice. Publishing since 2004 under the banner Towards Tomorrow. Learn more about us.
Did You Know:
- 1 - Autism diagnoses have risen dramatically: about 1 in 31 eight-year-old children (3.2 percent) were identified with autism in 2022 CDC surveillance data, up from 1 in 36 in 2020 and just 1 in 150 when the CDC first began tracking it among children born in the early 1990s.
- 2 - Disability rises sharply with age: about 8.7 percent of adults aged 18 to 29 report a disability, climbing to 43.9 percent among adults aged 65 and older.
- 3 - Childhood disability tracks closely with family income - 18 percent of U.S. children in families below the poverty level report a disability, compared with 11 percent of children in families at or above 200 percent of the poverty line. View more Disability Statistics.
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Recent Disability News and Information
AI Companions May Stunt How Teens Learn Relationships
Researchers warn that teens leaning on AI chatbots for relationship advice may miss key social skills built through real human interaction. Published: 29 Jun 2026.
Why Babies Under Two Should Have No Screen Time At All
UK researchers warn that screen time for children under two carries long-term health risks and offers few real benefits during early development. Published: 29 Jun 2026.
Basal Cell Carcinoma on the Finger: A Rare Case Report
A rare case report of nodular basal cell carcinoma on the finger, its misdiagnosis risks, and why surgical excision remains the key treatment. Published: 26 Jun 2026.
Legislators Failing Disabled Americans Under Trump
Opinion piece on elected legislators failing to speak out against Trump administration policies that cut benefits and rights for disabled Americans. Published: 26 Jun 2026.
Popular Pages
Disability Loans and Grants: Financial assistance programs available for low-income families, seniors, and disabled students.
Famous People with Disabilities: Lists of well-known people with various disabilities and conditions who contributed to society.
Awareness Ribbon Colors: Guide to awareness ribbon colors for health, medical conditions, disability, and other causes.
Adult Height to Weight Chart: Ideal weight-to-height ratio for adult females and males.
Child to Teen Height to Weight Ratio Charts: Average height-to-weight ratios for children and teens organized by age.
Newly Updated Pages
HopkinsPD App Tracks Parkinson's Symptom Severity: The HopkinsPD smartphone app uses built-in sensors to generate an objective Parkinson's symptom severity score that aligns with neurologist assessments.
Virtual Reality Reduces Phantom Pain in Paraplegics: EPFL researchers used a virtual reality bodily illusion to reduce drug-resistant neuropathic phantom pain in paraplegics by restoring a sense of touch.
Cervical Hernias Linked to Brain Damage, Study Finds: Spanish researchers used neuroimaging and artificial intelligence to detect brain damage in patients with cervical hernias, including cortical atrophy.
Guide Dog Access Rights and the UK Equality Act 2010: A guide dog owner explains his legal right to access taxis, shops, and restaurants under the UK Equality Act 2010, and the refusals he still faces in practice.
Airlines Advance Accessible Air Travel for Passengers with Disabilities: Airlines are advancing accessible air travel by harmonizing standards and collaborating with the disability community to ensure safer, more inclusive journeys.