NCPEDP Study on Disability Question in

Population Census of India 2011

Prepared by DEOC

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

To understand what kind of question the disability sector thinks should be asked in the Census Questionnaire to ensure that a more

authentic disability data is collected.

METHODOLOGY

1. Studying the Questions asked previously, and in some other countries

• 11 Countries, some ‘developing’ and some ‘developed’

• Question recommended by the Washington Group

• Mainly secondary data compiled from the internet

METHODOLOGY

2. A Survey to understand what Disability Question the disability sector thinks should be asked in the Census Questionnaire of 2011

- The Questionnaire and the Explanatory Note was prepared

METHODOLOGY

The database of representatives of disability sector in India was prepared. It was a selective sample with representation of:

• Different regions• Neglected regions• Different disability groups, such as, Autism,

learning disabilities, deaf-blindness, leprosy, Thalassaemia and Haemophilia.

• Rural and urban areas• A large part of the sample consisted of persons

with disabilities.

MAJOR FINDINGS

In their Census, countries have asked either:

• a single question on whether the person has a disability or not;

• categories or nature of disability; or• function/activity-based disability

question.

Countries studied for disability question in Census

• Canada• US• England• South Africa• Nepal• Brazil• Kenya• Peru• Trinidad & Tobago• Venezuela• Philippines

Country & question type Disability prevalence rate

Do you have a disability? Yes / No

Nigeria 0.5

Philippines 1.3

List of Conditions

Mexico 1.8

Uganda 3.5

Activity-based question

United Kingdom 12.2

Canada 18.5

DISABILITY PREVALENCE RATES BY COUNTRY AND DISABILITY QUESTION METHOD

Washington Group on Disability Statistics

• Washington Group on Disability Statistics was set up in 2001.

• One of the objectives of the WG was to develop disability measures suitable for censuses and surveys.

• WG proposed a question based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

The proposed question of WG

• The next questions ask about difficulties you may have doing certain activities because of a HEALTH PROBLEM.1. Do you have difficulty seeing, even if wearing glasses?– The inclusion of assistive devices was considered for two domains

only, seeing and hearing, as limitations in these domains can often be overcome with the use of glasses or hearing aids.

2. Do you have difficulty hearing, even if using a hearing aid?

3. Do you have difficulty walking or climbing steps?4. Do you have difficulty remembering or concentrating?5. Do you have difficulty (with self-care such as) washing all over or dressing?6. Using your usual (customary) language, do you have difficulty communicating, (for example understanding or being understood by others)?

Each question has four response categories: (1) No, no difficulty, (2) Yes, some difficulty, (3) Yes, a lot of difficulty and (4) Cannot do it at all. The severity scale is used in the response categories in order to

capture the full spectrum of functioning from mild to severe.

• Number of people the Questionnaire was sent to: 100

• Responses received: 72• Percentage of responses: 72%• Number of States/UTs covered: 23

Disability Question chosen by Indian Disability Sector Leaders for

Census 2011 in India

Options and the Response Rate

• OPTION 1. Disability Question asked in India Census 2001

• OPTION 2. Disability Question asked in the Pre-Test Questionnaire of India Census 2011

• OPTION 3. Disability Question based on the categories covered under the Indian disability laws

• OPTION 4. Question suggested by Washington Group based on International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (with certain modifications)

• OPTION 5. Question used in UK Census 2001• OPTION 6. Question based on UNCRPD• OPTION 7. Question based on UNCRPD (with

modification)

Question No. Respondent Count

Percentage of Response

Option 7 46 63.89%

Option 3 10 13.89%

Option 5 6 8.33%

Option 6 3 4.17%

None of above

3 4.17%

Option 1 2 2.78%

Option 2 2 2.78%

Option 4 0 0.00%

TOTAL 72 100%

First Preference of the Respondents

If the person has impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder her/his full and effective participation in the society on an equal basis with others, tick on any one of the following nature of disabilities:1. Physical impairment (e.g. impairment of movement, muscles, joints, limbs, balance, impairment of touch)2. Psychological and psycho-social impairment (e.g. impairment of behaviour, attention, concentration, thoughts, mood, interaction with others)3. Learning impairment (e.g. intellectual impairment, specific learning impairment and impairment of applying knowledge)4. Hearing impairment5. Visual impairment6. Speech impairment7. Multiple impairments8. Long-term disabling health condition (dysfunction of body organ/s leading to long-term functional limitation)

Some Suggestions from Respondents for Further Discussion

• The wordings of the covering line (for example to include ‘barriers’ or not)

• Inclusion of a separate category of deafblindness

• The change in terminology from ‘hearing impairment’ to ‘deaf and hard of hearing’

• The definition of each category, what impairments to be included and how the enumerators should ask that question

• The strategy and content for enumerators’ training

• The strategy for awareness raising

Thank You