In 2003, 2.5% of Australians under the age of 65 had an
intellectual disability (436,000 people), and the vast majority of
them (423,000) were living at home, according to a report released
today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
'Intellectual disability can cause a person to experience
difficulties in learning, making decisions, managing their
emotions, maintaining relationships and interacting with people. It
can also make it harder to cope in unfamiliar environments and
circumstances,' said Dr Xingyan Wen of the Institute's Functioning
and Disability Unit.
'For these reasons, people with intellectual disability often
need increased support during times of change or transition in
their lives,' he said.
The report, Disability in Australia: intellectual
disability, showed that over half (60%) of people with
intellectual disability living in households needed help with
things like learning, making decisions, and managing emotions; 33%
needed help with mobility, 27% with communication and 24% with
self-care.
'Of those who needed help with things like learning, making
decisions, managing emotions, interacting and maintaining
relationships with people, 38% reported that their need was only
partially met or not met at all,' Dr Wen said.
'Similarly, for those who needed help to communicate
effectively, 36% believed they did not receive adequate
communication assistance,' he said.
School-age children typically need additional help with the
transition from home to school. These students are also likely to
need ongoing support to participate in school activities.
In 2003, more than half of the 184,200 school students with
intellectual disability were either attending a special class or a
special school that offered special support. The remaining children
were in ordinary classes. However, almost 30% of students with
severe disability who start off in an ordinary class move to a
special class or special school within five years.
Once out of school, labour force participation rates of people
aged 15-39 years with intellectual disability range between 34% and
60% within this age group. By comparison, participation rates for
people without intellectual disability are over 80%.
In 2003, 17,700 people with intellectual disability reported
they needed employment support. They were either unemployed, or
could work with special assistance but were not looking for a job
due to their illness or disability, and they were not attending
disability day activity programs.
Another 10,300 people reported needing help to participate in
community activities. They were not studying or attending a day
activity program; their main reason for not looking for a job was
their illness or disability; and they could not go out as often as
they would like because of their condition.
The report is an analysis of data from the 2003 ABS Survey of
Disability, Ageing and Carers.
Wednesday 12 November 2008
Further information: Dr Xingyan Wen, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1177 or mob 0407 915 851.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. (02) 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications area
for the availability of Disability in Australia:
intellectual disability.