Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility
Disability Characteristics

2017 American Community Survey Estimates

The American Community Survey (ACS) is an on-going nationwide survey providing communities with current information on demographic, social, economic and housing characteristics. Fully implemented in 2005 as part of the Census Bureau’s re-engineered census program, the ACS collects and analyzes data yearly instead of every ten years.

According to the American Community Survey, in San Antonio an estimated:

  • 232,627 individuals (15.6%) reported one or more types of disability
  • 59,064 individuals reported having a hearing disability
  • 74,480 individuals reported having a vision disability
  • 87,518 individuals reported having a cognitive disability
  • 109,600 individuals reported having an ambulatory disability
  • 42,997 individuals reported having a self-care disability
  • 74,358 individuals reported having an independent living disability

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Definitions

The ACS identifies people with disabilities by asking respondents questions pertaining to the following areas of functioning:

  1. Hearing – deaf or serious difficulty hearing.
  2. Vision - blind or serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses. 
  3. Cognitive – serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition. 
  4. Ambulatory – serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs. 
  5. Self-Care – difficulty dressing or bathing. 
  6. Independent Living – serious difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping, due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey.

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City of San Antonio

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Disability Access Office (DAO)

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