Trends in Demography of Childhood Poverty and Disability

Abstract

This article presents childhood disability prevalence trends and their interaction with economic status. Estimates derived from National Health Interview Survey data (1983–1996) indicate a significant increase in childhood disability rates. Increased risk for disability was among constituencies defined by poverty and single-parent families. Analysis suggests three dynamics: (a) greater risk in single-parent households, (b) no incremental risk associated with racial or ethnic status after controlling for poverty, and (c) a growing relationship between poverty and risk for disability. Implications were discussed in terms of a “new universe” of disability and the importance of educations involvement in broader national social policy and advocacy.

Impacts of Poverty on Quality of Life in Families of Children with Disabilities

“…By contrast, among the children without disabilities in the same age range, only 16% are living in poverty (Fujiura & Yamaki, 2000).…”

“…As of 1997, more than a fifth of American children lived in families with cash incomes below the poverty level (Dalaker & Naifeh, 1998). Significantly, recent demographic studies have found a growing relationship between poverty and risk for disability (Fujiura & Yamaki, 2000;Kaye, LaPlante, Carlson, & Wenger, 1996;Seelman & Sweeney, 1995). For example, the longitudinal estimates done by Fujiura and Yamaki (2000) indicated a significant increase in the rate of childhood disability over the past 14 years among constituencies defined by poverty and singleparent headed families.…”

An Intergenerational Perspective on Risk and Protective Factors in Multi-Problem Poor Familes Living in Cape Town

“…Research by Algood, Hong, Gourdine and Williams (2011), Jaffee, Caspi, Moffitt, PoloTomás and Taylor (2007), and Fujira and Yamaki (2000) indicates that children who live in poverty are at greater risk of being abused than children who do not live in poverty. It is already clear that the participant families come from deprived circumstances (Theme 1); and the literature indicates that such families are at risk of child abuse and neglect, which was found to be the case in this research.…”

Income Poverty and Material Hardship among U.S. Women with Disabilities

“…Although disabilities clearly contribute to the increased likelihood of living in poverty in the United States, poverty also increases the risk of disability. Being born in poor families elevates the risk that a child will have impairments (Fujiura & Yamaki, 2000), most likely because of reduced access to adequate and appropriate health care (both prenatally and throughout childhood); reduced access to sufficient nutrition; and the array of environmental risks that accompany poverty.…”