2.1 Prevalence

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 61 million Americans have a disability.1  That means 26% of people in the United States—1 in 4—have some type of disability. In Louisiana, approximately 1,122,487 people have a disability, which is equal to 33% or 1 in 3 adults.2  15% of Louisiana adults have a mobility disability, 16% a cognitive disability, 8% a hearing impairment, and 8% a vision impairment. Everyone has the possibility of experiencing disability, even if only temporarily, at some point during their lifetime. That likelihood increases as we age. These statistics show that the likelihood of a client needing an accommodation is relatively high. As attorneys, we have an obligation to recognize our client’s varied needs and understand how to address them.

• 1Ctrs. for Disease Control & Prevention, Disability Impacts All of Us,(last reviewed Oct. 28, 2022).
• 2Nat’l Ctr. on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Ctrs. for Disease Control & Prevention, Disability Impacts Louisiana.