Disability and Class: How Money and Society Shape the Disability Experience

For years, disability has been viewed solely as a health-related subject. However, contrary to popular belief, money, education, and social opportunity can change what it’s like to live with a disability just as much as impacts to the body or brain do. In fact, someone with a disability from a wealthy family might have easier access to doctors, technology, or education, while someone from a low-income family might face daily obstacles that have nothing to do with their actual ability.

Not only are these differences unfair; they can have long-term effects on education, upward mobility, career opportunities, and overall quality of life. By looking at disability through the lens of socioeconomic status (SES), we can see how inequality affects real people every day.

How Socioeconomic Status Impacts Disability

Socioeconomic status impacts income, education, and access to resources such as healthcare, housing, and transportation. Research shows that people with lower SES often face more barriers when living with a disability.

• People with lower income are more likely to struggle with daily tasks and experience long-term health problems¹.

• Access to healthcare, nutrition, and safe housing is strongly tied to income, meaning low-income individuals with disabilities often have fewer resources to manage their needs².

• Students with disabilities from low income families are less likely to receive accommodations or extra support in school, which can limit their future opportunities³.

  
  

These factors combine to create a cycle: less money can make it harder to manage a disability, and having a disability can make it harder to earn money or access opportunities.

Everyday Examples

Think about daily life:

• A student with a visual impairment may need special technology to read and write. Without the financial means to access these tools, learning becomes more difficult, which can impact grades and college opportunities.

• Someone who uses a wheelchair may want or need a part-time job, but if public transportation is inaccessible or workplaces lack ramps and elevators, employment may not be possible.

• Families with limited income might have to choose between paying for medical care, rent, or other basic needs, making disability-related costs an extra burden.

• Even seemingly minor considerations, like affording medication, attending therapy sessions, or buying adaptive devices, can be barriers for families with fewer resources.

  
  

These examples show that disability isn’t just an isolated, personal challenge. It’s shaped by the resources and opportunities available in a person’s life.

How Society Contributes

Individual families are not the only affected group. Systems and policies also play a role. Schools, transportation systems, healthcare services, and workplaces often assume a certain level of financial resources. This creates disadvantages for people with disabilities who don’t have the money or support to meet these expectations.

• Education: Schools may lack funding for proper accommodations like interpreters, technology, or adapted materials2.

• Healthcare: Insurance gaps and expensive treatments can prevent access to needed care.

• Employment: Jobs may be inaccessible physically or socially, and individuals may face discrimination based on both disability and class.

• Housing: Affordable, accessible housing is limited, which can affect independence and safety1.

  
  

By understanding how these systems intersect with class, we can see why some people face a “double challenge.” Their disability, plus the effects of lower socioeconomic status, can lead to extra hardships3.

3. Both Communities Understand What It’s Like to Be Misunderstood

Disabled and LGBTQI+ people share something major: society often misunderstands or erases them.³ A lot of disabled LGBTQI+ youth deal with:

• Being told their gender identity is “just part of the disability”

• Adults speaking for them

• People assuming they can’t understand their own identity

• Inaccessible clubs, events, GSAs, or online info

  
  

These experiences can make it hard to trust adults or seek help, especially when the people in charge don’t see all parts of who you are.

Why This Matters

Recognizing the connection between disability and SES helps us see that disability is more than a personal issue; it’s also a social and economic one. Accessibility means fair access to education, jobs, healthcare, and housing. Everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their family’s income or background.

When young people understand this connection, they can help challenge inequality, advocate for policy changes, and support peers with disabilities and other intersecting factors of identity in meaningful ways.

Why You Can Do

Even as a young person, there are ways to make a real difference:

1. Inquire and Share: Understand how disability and SES intersect, and share what you learn with friends, classmates, and family. Awareness is the first step toward change.

2. Advocate for Accessibility: Speak up when schools, public spaces, or community programs aren’t inclusive. Even small actions, like suggesting ramps, flexible schedules, or accessible events, can make a difference.

3. Support Programs and Organizations: Volunteer, donate, or promote initiatives that provide resources to low income individuals with disabilities.

4. Challenge Stereotypes: Don’t assume someone’s abilities or potential based on their disability or socioeconomic background. Treat everyone as capable and valuable.

5. Use Your Voice: Write articles, create social media campaigns, or join school and community projects that push for fairness and inclusion. Youth voices can influence schools, communities, and local governments.

By taking action, young people can help create a world where disability is not a barrier to opportunity and everyone has the support they need to thrive.

Footnotes

1. Gradient of disability across the socioeconomic spectrum in the United States. PubMed, 2006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16914705/.

2. Socioeconomic Factors at the Intersection of Race and Ethnicity Influencing Health 2. Risks for People with Disabilities. CDC, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/socioeconomic-factors-race-and-ethnicity.html.

3. Social class and learning disabilities: Intersectional effects on college students in New York City. CUNY Academic Works, 2018. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/oaa_pubs/12/.