For many families supporting a person with a disability, independence involves far more than finding a place to live. It can also depend on access to employment, reliable support, meaningful relationships, and a community that remains available as circumstances change. A 2025 report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving estimated that 63 million Americans were providing ongoing care to an adult or child with a complex medical condition or disability.
Employment is another important part of that picture. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 38.1 percent of working-age people with a disability were employed in 2025, compared with 74.8 percent of working-age people without a disability. These figures do not reflect every individual experience, but they illustrate why access to meaningful work remains part of the wider conversation about independence.
