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Description of Table 1: Computer Ownership and Internet
Usage by Location
The U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey categories include
"metropolitan" (i.e. urban) and "non-metropolitan" (i.e.
rural). The metropolitan category is further differentiated into
"city" (central city) and "suburb" categories. Across these
settings, there is a large and statistically significant difference between
people (aged 15 and over), with and without work disabilities, in individual
computer ownership and Internet usage.
Percent of individuals who own a computer:
53.5 percent of metropolitan individuals who have no disability own a computer.
25 percent of metropolitan individuals with a disability own a computer.
57.5 percent of suburban individuals who have no disability own a computer.
28.7 percent of suburban individuals with a disability own a computer.
47.4 percent of central city individuals who have no disability own a computer.
19.9 percent of central city individuals with a disability own a computer.
44.5 percent of rural individuals who have no disability own a computer.
19.8 percent of rural individuals with a disability own
a computer.
Percent of Individuals Who Use the Internet:
39.3 percent of metropolitan individuals who have no disability use the
Internet.
10.9 percent of metropolitan individuals with a disability use the Internet.
41.9 percent of suburban individuals who have no disability use the Internet.
11.6 percent of suburban individuals with a disability use the Internet.
36.4 percent of central city individuals with no disability use the Internet.
8.8 percent of central city individuals with a disability use the Internet.
33.1 percent of rural individuals with no disability use the Internet.
6.8 percent of rural individuals with a disability use
the Internet.
Source: H.S. Kaye. Unpublished data, derived from Computer and Internet use
among people with disabilities. Disabilities Statistics Report 13, March 2000.
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