1. Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living Disability Survey Overview of Findings
Center for Opinion Research
Franklin & Marshall College
June 2017

2. Acknowledgement statement
“This project (program, publications, etc.) is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council.”

3. Copyright Statement
“Copyright © 2017 LVCIL and the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council. Permission to reprint, copy and distribute this work is granted provided that it is reproduced as a whole, distributed at no more than actual cost, and displays this copyright notice. Any other reproduction is strictly prohibited.”

4. Survey Methodology
The survey findings presented in this summary are based on the results of 521 interviews conducted May 10 – June 14, The interviews were conducted at the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College. The sample was created using an addressed based sample. Interviews were conducted with a randomly selected adult from within each household. The sample was obtained from Marketing Systems Group. Survey results were weighted (age, education, gender, and region) using an iterative weighting algorithm to reflect the known distribution of those characteristics.
The sample error for this survey is +/- 7.9 percentage points when the design effects of weighting are considered. In addition to sampling error, this poll is also subject to other sources of non-sampling error. Generally speaking, two sources of error concern researchers most. Non-response bias is created when selected participants either choose not to participate in the survey or are unavailable for interviewing. Response errors are the product of the question and answer process. Surveys that rely on self-reported behaviors and attitudes are susceptible to biases related to the way respondents process and respond to survey questions.

5. Survey Demographics
The survey is representative of the adult population of Pennsylvania. This table shows the demographic characteristics of the survey sample. The survey estimates are similar to the state’s known distributions of these demographic characteristics.
Age
Under 35
28%
35-54
34%
55 or older
38%
Education
High school or less
46%
Some college
24%
College degree or higher
30%
Marital Status
Married
Single, never married
29%
Not currently married
25%
Region of State
Philadelphia & SE
31%
Northeast
13%
Allegheny & SW
19%
Northwest
10%
Central
Work Status
Full-time
40%
Retired
27%
Other
33%
Income
Under $35,000
38%
$35-$75,000
34%
Over $75,000
28%
Gender
Male
47%
Female
53%
Has a Disability
Yes
24% No
76%
Race
White
86%
Nonwhite
14%

6. The estimated disability status provided by the current survey is similar to the estimated disability status of Pennsylvania and U.S. adults produced by recent surveys by the US Centers for Disease Control.
CDC Disability and Health Data Systems 2014 PA Data
CDC Disability and Health Data Systems 2014 United States Data
LCVIL
2017 Survey Data
*Source: Pennsylvania Disability Status Overview; Disability & Health Data Systems dhds.cdc.gov

7. CDC Disability and Health Data Systems 2014 PA Data
The current survey also produces age-specific disability estimates similar to those produced by the Centers for Disease Control.
CDC Disability and Health Data Systems 2014 PA Data
LCVIL
2017 Survey Data
No disability
Disability
*Source: Pennsylvania Disability Status Overview; Disability & Health Data Systems dhds.cdc.gov

8. Defining Disability and Personal Experiences with Disability

9. Personal Experiences with Disability
About half of all adults (52%) have no daily contact with a person who has a disability. Nearly one in four (24%) have daily contact with a person who has a disability and one in four have a disability themselves (24%).
Personal Experiences with Disability

10. Disability status differs significantly by demographic groups
Disability status differs significantly by demographic groups. The likelihood of having a disability increases with increasing age and declines with increasing education and income.
Person with a disability
No disability but has daily contact with person with disability
No disability but weekly or monthly contact with person with disability
No disability and no contact
Age*
Under 35
10%
23%
43%
25%
35-54
18%
33%
40% 9%
55 and Over
16%
26%
Education*
High school or less
35%
14%
31%
21%
Some college
29%
11%
College degree or higher 7%
Marital Status*
Single, never married
17%
45%
20%
Married
30%
38%
Not currently married
47%
19%
15%
Race*
White
24%
Non-White
Gender*
Male
Female
Income*
Under $35,000
$35,000-$75,000
44%
Over $75,000 3%
28%
49%
*Significantly different at the p = 0.05 level

11. Attitudes about People with Disabilities

12. Attitudes about Persons with Disabilities
Pennsylvanians have overwhelmingly positive attitudes about the ability of people with disabilities to contribute to their community and be included in society.
Attitudes about Persons with Disabilities

13. Pity, sympathy and related emotions (37%) are the most common feelings respondents have when they see a person with a disability.
Please complete the following statement. When I see a person with a disability I feel ….?
Sorry for them, pity, sympathy, bad, sad
37%
Would like to help
20%
Normal, nothing different
12%
Empathy 8%
Compassion 6%
Fortunate 4%
Concern 3%
Impressed, admire them
Grateful, thankful
Happy to see them 2%
Discomfort
Nothing
Mixed feelings 1%
Other
Do not know 5%
*Totals exceed 100% because multiple responses were accepted

14. Three in five (62%) adults believe people with disabilities deserve sympathy and more (66%) believe people with disabilities want to be cured of their disabilities.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statements….(% Strongly or Somewhat Agree)

15. One in three adults believes that people with disabilities have similar needs (33%) and that understanding the needs of one person with a disability helps understand the needs of all persons with disabilities (35%).
Do you agree or disagree with the following statements….(% Strongly or Somewhat Agree)

16. Nearly half (49%) of adults believe that people with disabilities are usually discriminated against and an even higher proportion (78%) believe there is at least some discrimination in jobs, housing, and transportation. Despite these perceived realities, most people (76%) believe there is less discrimination now than there was ten years ago.
Do you think people with physical or mental disabilities receive too many special advantages, usually receive fair treatment, or usually are discriminated against?
Thinking about jobs, housing, transportation, and access to public places, how much discrimination do you think there is against people with disabilities overall?
Do you think there is more or less discrimination against people with disabilities today than there was ten years ago?
*Source: Pennsylvania Disability Status Overview; Disability & Health Data Systems dhds.cdc.gov

17. Why do you think some people treat the disabled differently?
Nearly four in five (79%) adults believe that people with disabilities are often stigmatized and treated like outsiders. Respondents believe they are treated this way because of a lack of understanding or knowledge (41%), fear (13%) and ignorance (8%).
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People with disabilities are too often stigmatized and treated like outsiders.
Why do you think some people treat the disabled differently?
Lack of understanding
28%
Fear
13%
Lack of knowledge
Differences
Ignorance 8%
Discomfort 7%
Rude, unkind 6%
Lack empathy 4%
Lack compassion 3%
Other
Do not know
11%
*Totals exceed 100% because multiple responses were accepted

18. A plurality (42%) of adults think more education and awareness will help society become more inclusive for those with disabilities.
What can or should be done to help society be more inclusive for those with disabilities?
Education, awareness, understanding
42%
Treat people equally/fairly
13%
Programs – implement, fund 5%
Provide more support, help (in general) 4%
Jobs, employment, workforce
Accessible buildings 3%
Support for those with disabilities is already sufficient 2%
Funding, money
Advocacy, give a voice
Transportation – accessibility, services
ADA regulations expanded, enforced 1%
Housing – accessibility, affordability
Other 8%
Do not know
18%
*Totals exceed 100% because multiple responses were accepted

19. Comfort with People with Disabilities

20. Comfort with People with Disabilities
Comfort scores were calculated using the responses from five survey questions. Scores range from 0-5, with higher scores indicating greater comfort.
Questions and Responses Used to Calculate Comfort Score:
Q17 series: ROTATED types of disability randomly assigned to respondents for each question:
An intellectual disability
A mental illness
A physical disability
1 point for answering “Very comfortable” for each question in the series
Would you be comfortable or uncomfortable if…
Your child brings a friend with [ROTATED DISABILITY] home for a visit?
Your child dates a person with [ROTATED DISABILITY]?
Your boss is a person with [ROTATED DISABILITY]?
A close friend or relative marries a person with [ROTATED DISABILITY]?
You work closely with a person with [ROTATED DISABILITY]?
Cronbach’s alpha = .755

21. Pennsylvanians appear to be mostly comfortable with those with disabilities in many circumstances, but the level of comfort depends in large measure on the type of disability and specific circumstance. For instance, people are less comfortable with those with a mental illness in most circumstances, while they are much more comfortable with those with physical disabilities.
Percent of respondents who answered “Very comfortable”
Average for All Disability Types
A Physical Disability
An Intellectual Disability
A Mental Illness
*Scores are significantly different based on type of disabilities at the p = 0.05 level.

22. Distribution of Comfort Scores for the Total Sample
Respondents who have no disability and no daily contact with someone with a disability are less comfortable with those with disabilities.
Distribution of Comfort Scores for the Total Sample
Score
% of Sample
20% 1
13% 2
15% 3
14% 4 5
23%
Mean Score
2.6
Scores are significantly different at the p = 0.05 level.

23. Comfort with people with disabilities declines with age
Comfort with people with disabilities declines with age. Those who work fulltime, are between the ages or years of age, and have some college are the most comfortable with people with disabilities.
Gender
Education*
Race
Work Status*
Income
Marital Status
Age*
Region of State
*Scores are significantly different at the p = 0.05 level.

24. Connections / Integration

25. Most people with disabilities do not feel strongly connected to groups within the disability community or to people and groups not involved with disability issues.
How strongly connected are you with people and groups that work on disability issues, services and advocacy? (n=125)
How strongly connected are you with people and groups in your local community BESIDES those involved with disabilities issues? (n=125)

26. A majority (69%) of citizens believes that students with disabilities should be included in regular classrooms. A majority (85%) also believes these students should not have their own proms, but should be encouraged to attend their school’s prom.
Do you believe students with disabilities should have their own proms or should students with disabilities be encouraged to go to the proms at their own schools?
Now thinking about schools... Do you believe that students with disabilities should be included in regular classrooms, or not?

27. Conclusions Experiences with Disabilities
Half (52%) of adults have no daily contact with someone who has a disability.
One in four (24%) respondents reported having a disability.
Disability status differs significantly by demographic groups. The likelihood of having a disability increases with increasing age and declines with increasing education and income.
Attitudes Toward People with Disabilities
Pennsylvanians have overwhelmingly positive attitudes about the ability of people with disabilities to contribute to their community and be included in society.
Pennsylvanians express opinions that imply many of them think those with disabilities want to be “fixed.” Pity and sympathy are the most common feelings citizens express when they see someone with a disability and two in three ( 66%) citizens believe that those with disabilities most want to be cured.
Nearly half (49%) of adults believe that people with disabilities are usually discriminated against and an even higher proportion (78%) believe there is at least some discrimination in jobs, housing, and transportation. Nearly four in five (79%) adults believe that people with disabilities are often stigmatized and treated like outsiders. Despite these perceived realities, most people (76%) believe there is less discrimination now than there was ten years ago.

28. Conclusions Cont. Comfort with People with Disabilities
Pennsylvanians appear to be mostly comfortable with those with disabilities in many circumstances, but the level of comfort depends in large measure on the type of disability and specific circumstance. For instance, people are less comfortable with those with a mental illness in most circumstances, while they are much more comfortable with those with physical disabilities.
Respondents who have no disability and no daily contact with someone with a disability are less comfortable with those with disabilities.
Comfort with people with disabilities declines with age. Those who work fulltime, are between the ages or years of age, and have some college are the most comfortable with people with disabilities.

29. For more information…
About LVCIL’s Cross Disability Efforts project, this survey or its results please contact Seth Hoderewski at: ext. 119 or