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), also known to many readers as Disability World, 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. Disabled World has been publishing since 2004 under the banner Towards Tomorrow. Learn more about us.
"Disability is the only minority group that anyone can join at any time." - a widely shared saying in the disability community, often attributed to American comedian Josh Blue.
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 level. View more Disability Statistics.
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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.
Recent Disability News and Information
Mississippi L.O.V.E. Documentary Series Honors Disability
Mississippi L.O.V.E., a new documentary series, shares the stories of people with disabilities, families, caregivers, and support services across Mississippi. Published: 23 Sep 2026.
Stephen Hawking, Disability, and the Limits of Motivation
Stephen Hawking viewed through decision architecture, showing how assistive technology and support systems extend human agency when motivation meets hard limits. Published: 23 Sep 2026.
Second Look Laws and Disability-Inclusive Sentence Review
The Sentencing Project urges disability-inclusive second look laws so courts can review extreme sentences of people whose disabilities shaped their case. Published: 21 Sep 2026.
Hyperreligiosity: When Faith Becomes a Clinical Sign
Hyperreligiosity explained: how neurological disease, psychosis and rigid belief turn devotion into measurable harm, disability and preventable death. Published: 17 Sep 2026.
Sensory Issues and Behaviors: Lessons From an Itchy Rash
A personal look at how a temporary itchy rash reveals the link between sensory issues and behaviors, and why noticing them builds empathy for disabled people. Published: 15 Sep 2026.
Accessible Tourism in Nepal: Lessons from South Korea
South Korea's accessible tourism system, certified guides for blind visitors and disability hiring in tourism offer Nepal a practical model for inclusion. Published: 14 Sep 2026.
Newly Updated Pages
Warfarin vs Aspirin for Heart Failure: WARCEF Trial Results: WARCEF trial finds warfarin and aspirin similar in preventing death and stroke in heart failure with normal heart rhythm, though warfarin raised bleeding risk.
Trans Fat Free Labels Can Hide Harmful Trans Fat Levels: Research shows FDA rounding rules let foods with up to 0.49 grams of trans fat per serving list zero, hiding intake linked to heart disease and diabetes risk.
Sky Boy Ali Asgari Lemjiri: Record-Setting RC Plane Pilot: Ali Asgari Lemjiri, known as Sky Boy, holds a Guinness World Record for flying two RC model airplanes at once, one with his toes and one with his fingers.
SSDI Claims Backlog: 10 Tips for Disability Applicants: Tips for navigating the Social Security disability backlog, covering SSDI eligibility, medical records, appeal deadlines, and financial planning while you wait.