The State of Rhode Island

And Providence Plantations

Blind and Visually Impaired Fact Sheet

Data Source: 2008 American Community Survey

Population of Blind and Visually Impaired People in Rhode Island

Total 21,294
Gender
Male 9,608
Female 11,686
Age
Under 5 55
5-17 1,376
18-64 10,235
65-74 3,028
75 and older 6,600

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Data on Blind/Visually

Impaired Employment
• 75% of survey participants with vision loss* were identified as "not in the labor
force."

• 8.6% of survey participants with vision loss in the U.S. are unemployed. This
number does not include the 75% of participants identified as "not in the labor force."

*The BLS defines people with vision loss as anyone 16 years of age and over in the civilian non-
institutional population who answered "yes" to the question: "Is anyone blind or does anyone
have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?"

The State of Rhode Island Facts:

• 10,235 people between the ages of 18-65 are blind/Visually Impaired

and eligible for employment
• An approximate 8,556 Blind/Visually Impaired people eligible to work
are not in the work force.
• That is an approximate 8,556 Social Security collectors that could be
contributing to the system rather than collecting from it.

Education is the Key to Increasing the Work Force

Population of The Blind and Visually Impaired
Education is the Key to Increasing the Work Force
Population of The Blind and Visually Impaired