Disability is a very heterogeneous term. There are about 428,000 disabled people in Sweden aged 16-84 years. Of these, about 100,000 are wheelchair users, others have mostly impaired function in the arms and hands. Most disabled are older, aged 65-84 years and are 21.2 percent of the disabled.
Impaired hearing:
This is the most common disability and nearly 700,000 people only have impaired hearing. 12 percent of the adult population have hearing impairment. People with impaired hearing, of all ages, have been travelling the same as non-disabled.
Severe asthma / allergy:
3 percent, or 210,000 persons of the adult population, mainly young and middle-aged, have severe asthma or allergy. People with severe asthma or allergy are travelling the same as non-disabled.
Impaired vision:
A total 1.5 percent of the adult population have impaired vision and it is most common among the oldest. 26,000 people have only the disabled and additional 80,000 people have impaired vision in combination with other disabilities. People with impaired sight rarely travel by public transport.
Multiple disabilities:
Over 200,000 people (3 percent) of the adult population suffering from multiple disabilities. Elderly people get high-age health fragile and it is especially the oldest who have multiple disabilities. A third of 75-84-year-olds have multiple disabilities, over 100,000 people. In this group are women, often living alone. Persons with multiple disabilities rarely travels by public transport.
source:
SIKA Rapport 2002:6
