Purvi Sevak
Senior Director, Business Development
View Bio PageMaking Data on Minority Youth More Accessible to Centers for Independent Living
Historically, youth with disabilities, particularly those from minority backgrounds, have faced additional barriers with the transition to adulthood. While much research has focused on the transition from school to work, more research is needed on services to help traditionally underserved youth that have already left school.
In an effort to help Centers for Independent Living (CILs) better serve these youth, Mathematica has gathered and organized data from the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2009 through 2019 into an interactive map and downloadable data briefs for county CILs across the U.S. The briefs are organized on this page by state and present demographic characteristics of people aged 16-24 who have a disability and who live in a county served by CILs.
The briefs summarize information about the education, employment, race, and ethnicity of transition-age youth who live in a specific CIL’s service delivery area. They also compare the information to characteristics of CIL customers of all ages. The goal of these briefs is to help CIL staff understand how the youth they serve compare to out-of-school youth from minority backgrounds in their service areas.
Visualize Demographic Data by County
Nonworking Out-of-School Youth and Young Adults
In this interactive map, we highlight state- and county-level variation in the demographic and socioeconomic composition of nonworking out of school youth and young adults (OSY) with disabilities.
The drop-down options available in the series include:
- Nonworking OSY with disabilities
- Nonworking OSY with disabilities that come from a selection of racial and ethnic minority groups
- Nonworking OSY with disabilities that did not complete high school
- Nonworking OSY with disabilities that live in poverty
To compare a county-specific statistic to its state-level result, select a state and then hover over the counties on the map or download the data.
Data Sources: Staff from Mathematica generated population estimates for OSY with disabilities using data from the IPUMS USA version of the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2009 through 2019 (IPUMS USA, University of Minnesota, ipums.org).
Technical notes: Youth and young adults with disabilities were defined as youth and young adults aged 16-24 who report difficulty with at least one of the following: hearing, vision, cognition, mobility, self-care, or independent living. The IPUMS USA version of the ACS includes sample weights, which allow researchers to produce nationally representative estimates. Estimated shares are subject to sampling variation, and counties with small populations may have estimates with larger margins of error.
How Might CILs Use This Data?
As you review the data for your CIL, consider whether it is reflective of what you expect for your area. If not, why? Could you use these data to help inform new outreach efforts, cultural changes to CIL programs, or grant applications to expand services to minority populations you might not be serving? Read more below or download this two-page brief.
Expand outreach to youth and young adults from minority backgrounds through collaborations with several groups:
- Neighborhoods or community centers
- Religious groups
- Vocational rehabilitation agencies
- Mental health agencies
- Developmental disabilities agencies
- Schools
Make cultural adaptations to programs to help youth and families feel comfortable and welcome:
- Prepare informational materials in several languages
- Employ recent clients as peer mentors to clients who are similar culturally
- Hire and train staff who represent the communities in their area
- Develop content and goals reflecting the different cultural norms (for example, in certain cultures, a goal is to live with parents and contribute to the family’s finances, rather than to live independently)
Use the data when applying for grants to fund new programs focused on increasing outreach and services to transition-age youth to achieve several objectives:
- Describe the population who could benefit from new programs
- Determine the potential need
- Determine the potential impact
Get Demographic Data Briefs by State
Independent Living Resources of Solano & Contra Costa Counties
2018 Grant #: 1818CAILCL
Download reportIndependent Living Resources of Solano & Contra Costa Counties
2018 Grant #: 1843CAILCL
Download reportGreater New Haven Disability Rights Activists, Inc d/b/a Center for Disability Rights - CT
Download report
Independence Northwest: Center for Independent Living of Northwest CT, Inc. (DBA Independence Northwest, Inc.)
Download report
Three Rivers Independent Living Center Inc DBA Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland
Download report
Transitional Paths to Independent Living (formerly Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living)
Download report
Contact Us
For more detailed data or support, please contact MY-CIL for customized technical assistance at support@minorityyouthcil.org. We are happy to further analyze the data on youth in your service delivery area or help identify resources that may help you to adapt your programs, so they best meet the needs of youth and families in your area.
To learn more about MY-CIL, please visit: https://minorityyouthcil.com/.
