The financial vulnerability of people with disabilities : Assessing poverty risks

The economic self-sufficiency & independence of people with disabilities depend largely on their capacity to maintain financial stability. As a group, such individuals have among the highest poverty rates, lowest educational levels, lowest average incomes, & highest out-of-pocket expenses of all population groups. Any substantial shock to the financial stability of people with disabilities can threaten their access to necessary housing, nutrition, medical care, & other resources, the absence of which may result in further vulnerability & possible poverty. This article offers a theoretical framework for understanding disability poverty risk. Empirical studies are needed to test this model, quantifying the specific risk factors & identifying coping mechanisms used by people with disabilities to reduce vulnerability. The results will have important implications at the individual, service provider, & policy levels. 1 Figure, 34 References. Adapted from the source document.