States with the most residents with independent living disabilities
Many states are working to help their residents with disabilities gain more control over their health care, employment, community participation, and other aspects of their daily lives.
California's Independent Living Programs focus on developing functional self-help skills in people with disabilities to offer them more independence. Short-term and long-term assistance is available depending on people's needs.
In Texas, some local school districts are partnering with nearby universities to allow young adults with disabilities to hone their social skills, aiming to improve their employment prospects as they transition out of high school. In addition to skills training to enhance their employability, they also engage in peer-to-peer recreation.
A Wisconsin Department of Health Services program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act disperses funds for residents to improve their ability to live long-term in their homes. Recipients can use the money toward whatever they deem most helpful, including specialized medical equipment, moving services, home modifications, financial management, or personal emergency response systems.
The varying ways states have decided to approach these challenges show how independence can have drastically different meanings for each person, depending on their unique circumstances.
Read on to see which states had the most significant increase in residents with independent living disabilities from 2016 to 2021.
