July 2026 marks 36 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. Here are a few things we can learn from Compass data about Minnesotans with disabilities.
At least 1 in 8 Minnesotans has a disability.
More than 700,000 Minnesotans, or 12% of the state's total population, have a disability.
It's likely that the number of Minnesotans with a disability is actually higher. The data source for this article, the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS), identifies disability in four basic areas of functioning and two areas that may impact a person’s ability to live independently. All questions are based on self-identification. Hearing and vision questions are asked for all age groups, while the remaining questions are asked for people age 5 and older.
Hearing limitations
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Vision limitations
Blind or serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses
Limitations in cognitive functioning
Serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition
Ambulatory limitations
Serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs
Self-care limitations
Difficulty dressing or bathing
Independent living limitations
Difficulty doing errands alone due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition
Even with these six disability types, ACS estimates do not account for all people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA protects anyone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a history or record of such an impairment, or is perceived by others as having such an impairment.
Prevalence of disability tends to increase with age.
Increasing shares of Minnesota residents have a disability at older ages. Twenty-eight percent of older adults (65+) have at least one disability, more than double the share of any other age group. Multiple disabilities, or the share of individuals with more than one type of disability, also increase with age.
| Age group | Any disability | Multiple disabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Young children (0-4) | <1% | N/A |
| School-aged children (5-17) | 7% | 2% |
| Working-age adults (18-64) | 10% | 4% |
| Older adults (65+) | 28% | 14% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey.
The most common disability types vary across age groups:
- Young children (0-4): Less than 1% of young children have hearing or vision limitations. These are the only two disability types measured among young children.
- School-aged children (5-17): 5% of of school-aged children have cognitive limitations, the most common disability type among this age group.
- Working-age adults (18-64): 6% of working-age adults have cognitive limitations, the most common disability type among this age group.
- Older adults (65+): 16% of older adults have ambulatory limitations, with other relatively large shares of older adults reporting hearing limitations (13%) and/or independent living limitations (11%).
Minnesotans with disabilities tend to be at greater economic risk.
Compared to all Minnesotans, we see higher levels of poverty, lower levels of employment, and lower median earnings among Minnesotans with a disability. Similarly, at the national level, people with disabilities experience rates of unemployment and part-time work that are twice as high as people with no disability.
| Economic indicator | Minnesotans with disabilities | All Minnesotans |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20% | 9% |
| Proportion of adults working | 52% | 79% |
| Median annual earnings | $31,900 | $51,300 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey.
These economic and employment estimates indicate that Minnesotans with disabilities are at greater economic risk. Recent events and upcoming policy changes have and will exacerbate economic risk among disabled Minnesotans. Last winter, Access Press reported on the detrimental impacts of state investigations into fraud and federal immigration enforcement on Minnesotans with disabilities.
Starting in 2027, some Minnesotans receiving Medical Assistance (MA), Minnesota's Medicaid program, will face work requirements to continue to receive health care coverage. Minnesotans who qualify for MA based on a disability will be exempt from the work requirement, but the definition to qualify based on disability is more limited than the definition used in the ACS. This means that many of the most vulnerable populations may still risk losing coverage despite meeting requirements or qualifying for exemptions.
Want to learn more?
- Dig deeper in our Compass data profile and detailed charts on Minnesotans with disabilities.
- The Minnesota Council on Disability advises, provides technical assistance, collaborates, and advocates to expand opportunities, improve the quality of life, and empower all Minnesotans with disabilities.
- Learn more about the ADA and its titles on ADA.gov. The ADA National Network provides information, guidance, and training to businesses, employers, state and local governments, and other organizations and individuals on how to implement the ADA.