Recent Advances and Changes in Science, Work, and Society Have Enhanced Potential among People with Disabilities

Scientific advances, changes in the nature of work, and social changes have generally enhanced the potential for people with disabilities to work. Medical advancements and assistive technologies have given more independence to some individuals. Moreover, the economy has become more service- and knowledge-based, presenting both opportunities and some new challenges for people with disabilities. For instance, the Americans with Disabilities Act fosters the expectation that people with disabilities can work and have the right to work. As with treatment, the benefits of innovations in assistive technologies— such as advanced prosthetics and wheelchair designs—have not been fully incorporated into DI and SSI disability criteria because the design of these programs does not recognize these advances in disability decision making. Incorporating Advances and Changes into the Disability Criteria Could Have Profound Implications

In order to incorporate the medical, economic, and social advances and changes into the programs’ disability criteria, some steps can be taken within the existing program design, while others would require more fundamental changes.
Why GAO Did This Study

Since the Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs began, much has changed and continues to change in medicine, technology, the economy, and societal views and expectations of people with disabilities.

What GAO Found

GAO found that scientific advances, changes in the nature of work, and social changes have generally enhanced the potential for people with disabilities to work. Medical advances, such as organ transplantation, and assistive technologies, such as advances in wheelchair design, have given more independence to some individuals. At the same time, a service- and knowledge-based economy has opened new opportunities for people with disabilities, and societal changes have fostered the expectation that people with disabilities can work and have the right to work. GAO further found that DI and SSI disability criteria have not kept pace with these advances and changes. Depending on the claimant's impairment, decisions about eligibility benefits can be based on both medical and labor market criteria. Finally, some steps to incorporate these advances and changes can be taken within the existing programs' design, but some would require more fundamental changes.