American Indian Disability Legislation Survey Results

During the winter of 1994-95, the American Indian Disability Legislation Project conducted a survey of American Indian tribes throughout the United States.

The purpose of this survey was to discern how aware tribal governments are of disability issues, whether tribal governments have disability policies and whether services are available to tribal members with disabilities.

Of the tribes who answered the survey, 143 were randomly selected and their responses are summarized below. About 37% of these tribes reported that they are familiar with the ADA, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, or IDEA. The total enrollment of the selected tribes is 628,759. About 6.5% of these tribes, or 41,237 members, have one or more disabilities.

Diabetes and emotional problems were the two most commonly reported problems on these reservations, with tribes reporting that more than 25,000 members have diabetes and more than 18,000 have emotional problems. In addition, tribes reported that nearly 9,000 members are slow to learn; nearly 7,000 members use crutches, walkers, or canes; almost 5,000 use a wheelchair; over 5,000 are deaf or hard of hearing; and over 4,000 have fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effect. There are also a large number of tribal members who are blind or have very low vision, have speech or communication difficulties or do not have the use of one or both arms or legs.

Almost all tribes state the belief that it is very important that tribal members with disabilities be treated with respect. Most tribes thought it is important for members with disabilities to participate in their tribal government and in tribal activities, to have access to programs that provide disability-related services and to be employed on the reservation. Although tribes said that all of these issues are important, most were not satisfied with what was being done about them on their reservations.

Typically, the most accessible buildings on reservations were also the most frequently used, including schools, health facilities and community buildings. The least accessible were the least frequently used, in particular, BIA buildings, federal buildings and tribal courts and jails. Most tribes reported that Indian Health Service, Tribal Health Service, home health-care services, special-education services, Senior Citizen Centers and vocational rehabilitation services are available and are part of the tribal structure. Independent living centers, group homes and sheltered workshops are also a part of tribal structure, but only a few exist. Most other services, such as adult day care, respite services and developmental-disabilities services are not part of the tribal structure and are not readily available.
Few of the tribes have budgets for disability services. Thirty-nine percent include $7,000 to $8,000 in their budgets for making homes, public buildings and community areas accessible to wheelchairs. About 19% of the tribes include an average of $12,500 in their budgets for employment services for people with disabilities. About 16% include an average of $4,000 for public education on disability issues and $5,000 for staff training on disability issues. About 13% of the tribes included general disability money in their budgets.

American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center
The University of Montana Rural Institute:
A Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research and Services
52 Corbin Hall
Missoula, MT 59812-7056

(Opinions expressed are those of RTC: Rural staff and not those of the U.S. Department of Education)


	Ruralfacts: AIDL Survey Results
During the winter of 1994-95, the American Indian Disability Legislation Project conducted a survey of American Indian tribes throughout the United States. The purpose of this survey was to discern how aware tribal governments are of disability issues, whether tribal governments have disability policies and whether services are available to tribal members with disabilities. Of the tribes who answered the survey, 143 were randomly selected and their responses are summarized below. About 37% of these tribes reported that they are familiar with the ADA, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, or IDEA. The total enrollment of the selected tribes is 628,759. About 6.5% of these tribes, or 41,237 members, have one or more disabilities. Diabetes and emotional problems were the two most commonly reported problems on these reservations, with tribes reporting that more than 25,000 members have diabetes and more than 18,000 have emotional problems. In addition, tribes reported that nearly 9,000 members are slow to learn; nearly 7,000 members use crutches, walkers, or canes; almost 5,000 use a wheelchair; over 5,000 are deaf or hard of hearing; and over 4,000 have fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effect. There are also a large number of tribal members who are blind or have very low vision, have speech or communication difficulties or do not have the use of one or both arms or legs. Almost all tribes state the belief that it is very important that tribal members with disabilities be treated with respect. Most tribes thought it is important for members with disabilities to participate in their tribal government and in tribal activities, to have access to programs that provide disability-related services and to be employed on the reservation. Although tribes said that all of these issues are important, most were not satisfied with what was being done about them on their reservations. Typically, the most accessible buildings on reservations were also the most frequently used, including schools, health facilities and community buildings. The least accessible were the least frequently used, in particular, BIA buildings, federal buildings and tribal courts and jails. Most tribes reported that Indian Health Service, Tribal Health Service, home health-care services, special-education services, Senior Citizen Centers and vocational rehabilitation services are available and are part of the tribal structure. Independent living centers, group homes and sheltered workshops are also a part of tribal structure, but only a few exist. Most other services, such as adult day care, respite services and developmental-disabilities services are not part of the tribal structure and are not readily available. Few of the tribes have budgets for disability services. Thirty-nine percent include $7,000 to $8,000 in their budgets for making homes, public buildings and community areas accessible to wheelchairs. About 19% of the tribes include an average of $12,500 in their budgets for employment services for people with disabilities. About 16% include an average of $4,000 for public education on disability issues and $5,000 for staff training on disability issues. About 13% of the tribes included general disability money in their budgets. American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center The University of Montana Rural Institute: A Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research and Services 52 Corbin Hall Missoula, MT 59812-7056 (Opinions expressed are those of RTC: Rural staff and not those of the U.S. Department of Education)

Ruralfacts: AIDL Survey Results