State of the Georgia Girl Report

Disability Status

4% of girls in Georgia live with a federally classified disability – nearly 50,000 girls in total. The disability rate of girls is noticeably lower than that of boys by 2 points. Research has long shown that girls are often under diagnosed or misdiagnosed with mental, emotional, or learning differences while boys may be over-diagnosed (Quinn & Madhoo, 2014). The lower observed disability rate among girls in Georgia likely understates the true number of girls living with a disability, particularly for conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder, which often present differently in girls than in boys. Researchers including Quinn and Madhoo find that adults supporting girls must develop a broader understanding of mental and emotional disabilities in order to properly evaluate the unique symptoms of girls.

4%

of girls in Georgia live with a federally classified disability, a rate 33% lower than that of boys at 6%. U.S. Census, ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table B18101, 2024, Georgia

“...in order to properly evaluate the unique symptoms of girls. ”

85% of Georgia Girl Scouts believe they can make a difference in the world.

POWERED BY THE GIRL SCOUT COUNCILS SERVING THE STATE OF GEORGIA 17