Facts and figures

Long term impairments are strongly related to age - aged under 20 years: 4,5% female; 6,2 male - aged 20 to 60 years: 14,7% female; 16,3% male - aged over 60 years: 48,5% female; 48,3% male.

13% of the Austrian population report a physical / mobility impairment, 3,9% a visual impairment, 2,5% a hearing impairment, 0,8 % communication disorder, 1,0% learning difficulties, 7% a mental health disorder, 7% problems caused by other impairments and 7% multiple impairments.

People living in institutions (e.g. homes for the elderly, sheltered housing) are not included in this survey.

Source: Microcensus Survey on People with Impairments. Available in German

Data on employment indicate that:

Against the general trend towards a decrease in unemployment in 2006, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities was still on the increase. 5,9% of people with long term impairments (6,5% female, 5,4% male) were unemployed compared to 3,8% of those without impairments. (Report on the State of People with Disabilities, Federal Ministry for Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, 2008, in German) The employment rate of people with impairments was 58,5% (54,4% female; 70,2% male) compared to 77,8% of those without impairment (61,9% female; 85,7% male).

Data on education indicate that:

In the school year 2006/2007, just over 50% of children with special educational needs were integrated in regular schools in all of Austria. There are striking differences between the 9 different provinces and generally special schools are still well established. (Report on the State of People with Disabilities, Federal Ministry for Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, 2008, in German)

The microcensus data from 2007 indicate differences between disabled and non-disabled people regarding their highest level of education: Disabled men and women are more likely to have a lower qualification than non-disabled men and women. E.g. the highest level of education for people aged 20 to under 60 is: Compulsory school 17.7% men, 32.5 % women compared to 10.8 % and 17.7 % for non-disabled men and women; Apprenticeship 67.7% men and 51.9% women compared to .57.8% and 49.1% for nondisabled men and women; A-Level / University degree 14.6% men and 15.7% women compared to 31.4 % and 33.3% for nondisabled men and women.

Data on accessibility indicate that:

The microcensus data indicate that people with permanent impairments experience accessibility problems in different spheres of life:

Problems in Public Transport: 39.1% of people with mobility impairments, 42% of people with visual impairments and 43% of people with hearing impairments

Problems with access to public buidlings: 32.1% of people with mobility impairments, 38,4 % of people with visual impairments and 34.9% of people with hearing impairments

Problems with access to leisure activities: 67.3% of people with mobility impairments, 60.1% of people with visual impairments and 56% of people with hearing impairments

(Report on the State of People with Disabilities published by the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, 2008, in German)

Data from the MeAC accessibility survey (2007) showed that:

2 out of 6 selected public websites and none of the selected commercial websites passed the accessibility evaluation

The main emergency number was not accessible by text phone,

The main public television national language channels provided some TV programs with subtitling (26%) some with signing (0.25%) and some audio description.

Neither of the commercial TV channels provided national language programs with subtitling or signing.

Neither of the two main banks had installed talking ATMs

Data on poverty and incomes indicate that:
Men and women with disabilities tend to have a lower income compared to men and women without disabilities; women earn significantly less than men.

The monthly gross income for disabled people aged 16-64 is:
Less than €1,000: 19% men and 30% women compared to 8% nondisabled men and 29% women
€1,000-2,000: 38% men and 52% women compared to 38% nondisabled men and 52% women
More than €2000: 43% men and 18% women compared to 54% nondisabled men and 23% women.

The risk of poverty is twice as high among disabled people compared to non-disabled people and the risk of poverty for disabled women is higher than for disabled men. 11% of disabled people live in manifest poverty compared to 4% of nondisabled people. Microcensus Survey on People with Impairments, in German)

Data on attitudes indicate that:

The 2007 Special Eurobarometer on Discrimination in Europe showed that 42% of people knew someone who was disabled (compared to 55% EU average) and 75% acknowledged that being disabled tended to be disadvantage in society (EU average 79%).

Disability discrimination was viewed as widespread by 52% (EU average 53%); 34% thought that disability discrimination was more widespread than five years ago. 34% thought that not enough was being done to combat discrimination in general in France (EU average 51%).

75% thought that more disabled people should be in the workplace (EU average 74%) and 85% thought specific measures on equal opportunities were needed in this field.

Data on public spending indicate that:

We do not currently have data on public spending on disability.