Have you ever wondered how many people have jobs because people with disabilities exist? I have. And the more I think about it, the more I wonder why we don’t talk about it.
We keep hearing about how much taxpayer money is spent on people with disabilities. How much does it cost to provide us with services? How much does it cost to accommodate us? How much money is being spent to help us live independently?
Well, I have another question. How much money are we generating for the economy, and how many people are making a living because of us?
Let’s Start in My Driveway
My car is a perfect example.
I drive my own car, but I need hand controls and a wheelchair topper. The topper alone costs more than $5,000, and the hand controls run another $500 or so. That’s over $5,500 worth of equipment, and I’m a minimalist when it comes to vehicle modifications.
Some people with physical disabilities need accessible vans with ramps, lifts, specialized seating, and sophisticated driving systems. Those vehicles can cost a small fortune.
And no, taxpayers don’t foot the whole bill. Some of us rely on public programs. Some of us pay out of pocket. Plenty of us do both.
Me? I’ve done both. Vocational Rehabilitation covered my first topper and hand controls. The second time around, I paid for them myself.
But wherever the money comes from, where does it go?
Someone has to design the equipment. Someone has to manufacture it. Someone has to sell it, install it, and repair it when it breaks. And trust me, when something goes wrong with specialized equipment, you can’t always take it to your neighborhood mechanic. You need someone who understands how those particular parts work.
That’s an entire industry providing employment because people like me want to drive.
And not all of us drive. Paratransit services need drivers, dispatchers, schedulers, mechanics, and someone to answer the phone when the ride is late. Again.
And we haven’t even left the driveway!
Now Let’s Go Inside
Think about accessible kitchens, bathrooms, cabinets, countertops, appliances, doorways, and all the technology that allows people with physical disabilities to live more independently.
Someone has to create those products. Someone has to install them. Someone has to maintain them.
We’re talking about architects, engineers, contractors, plumbers, electricians, designers, manufacturers, and repair technicians.
More people earning a living.
And what about accessibility laws? The Americans with Disabilities Act has created work for attorneys, compliance consultants, accessibility inspectors, ADA coordinators, and professionals who help businesses and public institutions understand and meet their legal obligations.
Of course, some of that work involves helping businesses become accessible in the first place. Other times, it involves dealing with businesses that should have complied years ago.
Some businesses would apparently rather pay a lawyer than build a ramp.
Healthcare Is an Industry, Too
And what about healthcare?
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation specialists, psychologists, counselors, and all the other professionals who provide services to people with disabilities.
When someone becomes disabled later in life, that person may need physical therapy, occupational therapy, and even psychological counseling to adjust to a whole new way of living.
Some of us need these services for years. Others need them for a lifetime.
Every one of those professionals has bills to pay, groceries to buy, and perhaps a family to support.
Their income doesn’t sit in a bank account. They spend it, too.
Are you beginning to see where I’m going with this?
And I haven’t even mentioned wheelchair manufacturers, prosthetic specialists, assistive technology companies, or the people who develop and repair all those wonderful gadgets that make our lives easier.
We’re not talking about one or two jobs. We’re talking about entire industries.
Poof! Gone!
Now, I want you to use your imagination for a moment.
Suppose that tomorrow morning every person with a disability vanished.
Poof! Gone!
What happens to all those businesses?
What happens to the people who manufacture wheelchairs, modify vehicles, drive paratransit vans, install accessible equipment, provide therapy, and design products specifically for us?
What happens to their paychecks?
And what happens to the businesses where those workers spend their money?
Because when you eliminate one group of consumers, the financial consequences wouldn’t stop there.
They spread.
Now it’s not just people with disabilities who are gone. It’s the demand that supports jobs held by people who aren’t disabled.
And let’s not forget that people with disabilities are teachers, lawyers, doctors, business owners, artists, writers, and employees in every profession you can name.
We pay taxes. We buy groceries. We go to restaurants. We travel. We shop. We purchase homes, cars, appliances, and everything else that people purchase.
Take travel. Airlines employ agents who assist wheelchair users at airports. Hotels build accessible rooms. Rental car companies offer hand controls at certain locations. Cruise lines, tour companies, and travel agents who specialize in accessible trips all count us as customers.
Every accessible trip supports economic activity, and some of that spending helps keep people employed.
The more accessible society becomes, the more opportunities we have to participate in all those activities.
And the more we participate, the more businesses benefit from our spending.
So why does the conversation keep circling back to what we cost?
Nobody Gets a Lifetime Membership
But wait! There’s another wrinkle in my little hypothetical.
Even if every person with a disability disappeared tomorrow, you couldn’t prevent people from becoming disabled in the future.
Think about that.
The person manufacturing wheelchair lifts today could need one tomorrow.
The contractor installing an accessible shower might need one at home one day.
The physical therapist helping someone regain mobility could become the patient.
An accident, an illness, or plain old aging can change someone’s physical abilities.
Nobody has a lifetime membership card guaranteeing that they’ll remain nondisabled.
And that’s something I wish more people would consider when they talk about accessibility as though it’s some special favor being done for a small group of people.
The accessibility you provide for me today might be the accessibility you need tomorrow.
The Whole Picture
Now, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting that people with disabilities have to generate money or create jobs to justify our existence.
Absolutely not!
A person’s worth isn’t determined by how much money they make, how many taxes they pay, or how many people they employ.
But if we’re going to have conversations about the economic cost of disability, then shouldn’t we examine the entire picture?
I’m not saying that every dollar spent on disability-related services turns into profit. I’m saying that those dollars also support businesses, wages, and economic activity that get left out when people start complaining about what they claim we cost society.
And what fascinates me is that many of the people earning those wages aren’t disabled themselves.
They have careers, businesses, and livelihoods connected to our needs.
Do the Other Math
So the next time someone wants to calculate how much taxpayer money is being spent on people with disabilities, I’d like them to calculate something else, too.
How much money does the disability industry generate?
How many people earn their living because we exist?
And how many more jobs and business opportunities could be created if society made it easier for us to participate?
It’s time we stopped looking at people with disabilities as an expense and started recognizing that we’re part of what keeps the economy running.
But hey, that’s just my bellybutton.
Read my reason to roar! Click here.
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