Disability, Work, and Commuting in the U.S.: 2005-2007

Alison Fields, U.S. Census Bureau
Melissa Chiu, U.S. Census Bureau

Over recent decades, concepts of disability and employment have changed, as has U.S. public policy. This has been especially true since the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which provides legal protections and public services to persons with disabilities. While much work has discussed the socioeconomic and employment status of persons with disabilities, this paper additionally examines the commuting aspect of work and disability. We consider how workers with disabilities navigate the commuting process differently than other workers. Of particular interest is the choice of specific modes of transportation, such as carpooling, public transit, working at home, and alternate modes. Differences in transportation mode are compared by disability status and form of disability, including sensory, physical, go-outside-the-home, and employment disabilities. Differences by work characteristics such as occupation, industry, and degree of labor force engagement (full or part time) are also examined. Data come from the American Community Survey 2005-2007.