Hey Everybody,

Today, I want to tell you that I understand where you’re at and how you feel.  I’ve been through it personally.  AND, I work out with people every day at the Recreation Center where I live in Durango, Colorado.  I also travel to many states meeting with Vets and talking to people about what it’s like to live with a disability in the United States.

Before I had my stroke, I used to volunteer for agencies that helped people with disabilities and I thought I knew a little about it.  I thought I could empathize with them and understand how they felt.  I could try to make their lives a little easier or help them have fun for a day.  BUT… then I learned first-hand what it is like to live with a disability 24/7 – 365.  And yes, it mostly sucks!

Most of you know that I had a serious stroke when I was 40 years-old. After I came out of the coma and could think again, I couldn’t believe what had happened to me!  Man, what a shock. It’s really hard to grasp how drastically life can change in an instant. As I wrapped my head around my new reality, I got so depressed. And I got angry.  And I got more depressed and more angry.  I know how horrible it is.

And, I also want to tell you that although it feels like it- you are not alone.

Here are statistics from https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/

Having a disability places you in the world's largest minority group. Currently around 10% of the world's population, or roughly 650 million people, live with a disability. In most of the OECD countries, females have higher rates of disability than males. (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 36 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.)

Release Information

Nearly 1 in 5 People Have a Disability in the U.S., Census Bureau Reports 

Report Released to Coincide with 22nd Anniversary of the ADA

About 56.7 million people — 19 percent of the population — had a disability in 2010, according to a broad definition of disability, with more than half of them reporting the disability was severe, according to a comprehensive report on this population released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The report, Americans with Disabilities: 2010, presents estimates of disability status and type and is the first such report with analysis since the Census Bureau published statistics in a similar report about the 2005 population of people with disabilities. According to the report, the total number of people with a disability increased by 2.2 million over the period, but the percentage remained statistically unchanged. Both the number and percentage with a severe disability rose, however. Likewise, the number and percentage needing assistance also both increased.

And these statistics are old now.  Following are more current statistics.

As the population ages this figure is expected to increase. Eighty per cent of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, according to the UN Development Program (UNDP). The World Bank estimates that 20 per cent of the world's poorest people have some kind of disability, and tend to be regarded in their own communities as the most disadvantaged. Statistics show a steady increase in these numbers. The reasons include:

  • Emergence of new diseases and other causes of impairment, such as HIV/AIDS, stress and alcohol and drug abuse;
  • Increasing life spanand numbers of elderly persons, many of whom have impairments;
  • Projected increases in the number of disabled children over the next 30 years, particularly in the developing countries, due to malnutrition, diseases, child labor and other causes;
  • Armed conflict and violence. For every child killed in warfare, three are injured and acquire a permanent form of disability. In some countries, up to a quarter of disabilities result from injuries and violence, says WHO.

In countries with life expectancies over 70 years of age, people spend on average about 8 years, or 11.5 per cent of their life span, living with disabilities.

While my focus is mainly on people with physical disabilities – there are many other categories.  Disabilities also include: Vision, Hearing, Cognitive, Ambulatory, and Self-Care and Independent Living difficulties.

The following statistics were compiled by some graduate students at Cornell University in New York State.   And these are only statistics for the United States.

These statistics indicate the social and economic status of non-institutionalized people with disabilities in the United States, using data from the 2016 American Community Survey (ACS).

Age: In 2016, the prevalence of disability in the US was: 12.8 percent for persons of all ages 0.7 percent for persons ages 4 and under 5.5 percent for persons ages 5 to 15 6.2 percent for persons ages 16 to 20 10.9 percent for persons ages 21 to 64 25.3 percent for persons ages 65 to 74 49.6 percent for persons ages 75+

Disability Type: In 2016, the prevalence of the six disability types among persons of all ages in the US was: 2.4% reported a Visual Disability 3.6% reported a Hearing Disability 7.1% reported an Ambulatory Disability 5.2% reported a Cognitive Disability 2.7% reported a Self-Care Disability 5.7% reported an Independent Living Disability

Gender: In 2016, 12.9 percent of females of all ages and 12.7 percent of males of all ages in the US reported a disability. Hispanic/Latino: In 2016, the prevalence of disability among persons of all ages of Hispanic or Latino origin in the US was 9.1 percent.

Race: In the US in 2016, the prevalence of disability for working-age people (ages 21 to 64) was: 10.9 percent among Whites 14.0 percent among Black / African Americans 4.5 percent among Asians 18.1 percent among Native Americans 10.1 percent among persons of some other race(s)

Employment: In 2016, the employment rate of working-age people (ages 21 to 64) with disabilities in the US was 36.2 percent.

Looking for Work: In the US in 2016, the percentage actively looking for work among people with disabilities who were not working was 7.8 percent.

Go to:  http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/StatusReports/2016-PDF/2016-StatusReport - to learn more.

OK, see.  There are Millions of us with disabilities. So, let’s not feel sorry for ourselves and focus on our disability- lets focus on our ABILITIES!  Look at what you can do – not what you can’t do!

I couldn’t do anything but sit in my wheel chair until I got damned determined to get the hell out of that thing and regain my life – to the best of my ability.

I’m here to tell you that you can do it too.  I am going to be here to encourage and motivate you and do  it right along-side of you.  I will be your cheerleader, your personal coach, your personal trainer and you’re new best friend.

Just trust in me and have the courage to come along on this new ride.  The ride to a new stronger, healthier, more independent you.

What have you got to lose?  A few pounds and some tv time?  Trust me it’s worth it to really see yourself getting more capable and gaining some independence- even if it’s just small things at first.

I know you go through a lot every day just to get bathed and dressed and eat. I know it’s easier to just hide out at home.  Work with me here – right at home. Do what you can – and when you’re ready – head out to the gym.  Go for a walk with a friend. Go for a ride in your chair.

Sincerely,

James Jones