Disability among Canada's aboriginal peoples in 1991

In 1991, disability rates among adults were high for Aboriginal people, compared with the total Canadian population: 31% versus 13%. For all ages and levels of education, Aboriginal disability rates were much higher than those of Canadians overall. While most younger Aboriginal persons with a disability were only slightly disabled and did not need help with their daily activities, at age 55 and over, more than half of Aboriginal persons with a disability were either moderately or severely disabled and required such help. Nonetheless, most of the Aboriginal population with disabilities who needed help received it, so only a small proportion of them had unmet needs for assistance. The need for assistance, however, increased with the severity of disability. Recent improvements in survivorship mean that more Aboriginal people will live to older ages, at which disability rates are higher. This has implications for their need for health and social services, and the associated costs. Statistics Canada's 1991 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) was used to examine the prevalence and severity of disability and the degree of dependence in the Aboriginal population. Where possible, these results are compared with data for the total Canadian household population from the 1991 Health and Activity Limitation Survey (HALS).