Today marks the 21st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities in public accommodations, commercial facilities, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications.

According to the Census Bureau, 36 million people have a disability. They represent 12 percent of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

By age: 5 percent of children 5 to 17 have disabilities, 10 percent of people 18 to 64, and 37 percent of adults 65 and older have disabilities, according to the 2009 American Community Survey.

More women – 12.3 percent – have a disability, compared to men at 11.6 percent.

West Virginia has the highest percentage of disabled people at 18.8 percent, while Utah has the fewest at 8.9 percent

Disabilities cover many things. For 10.2 million people it is an issue with hearing. Vision is a problem for 6.5 million people.