A full 13% of the American population has a diagnosed disability, and this population leads a very different life than the other 87%. If you are over 61 years old, the numbers rise dramatically, with 25% of the population living with a disability. The data demonstrates that most of these individuals do not have access to the same services and experience a much‑reduced quality of life along with increased social isolation.
While progress has been made, these challenges remain:
- Unemployment rates for people with disabilities are 3× higher
- Poverty rates are double
- People with disabilities have much lower wages
- Only 0.15% of housing in the U.S. is wheelchair accessible
- 50% of the unhoused have at least one disability
- Gaps in healthcare access and other services can translate to years on waitlists
- 20% of all public‑school students—or 1 in 5 NH students K–12—have a disability
Accessibility is not a single issue—it spans education, employment, housing, healthcare, recreation, and art. An accessible world requires coordinated, aligned systems that work together to support the whole person. Individuals with disabilities are often included in name, but face barriers to full engagement in school, work, and community life.
True accessibility ensures individuals can actively participate, contribute, and lead. This is the world that CMF aspires to achieve.
CMF’s work across programs demonstrates that when barriers are intentionally addressed—through early education, workforce investment, innovative service models, and community partnerships—access expands, participation increases, and outcomes improve. This contrast underscores both the urgency of the need and the possibility of change.
CMF is not only responding to need, but actively shaping a future where accessibility is not the exception, but the expectation. Thank you so much for making this happen—we could not do it without you.
Ned Olney
President and CEO