Revising the United Nations Revising the United Nations Census Recommendations on Census Recommendations on DisabilityDisability

Margaret Mbogoni and Angela MeMargaret Mbogoni and Angela Me

First meeting of the Washington Group on Disability First meeting of the Washington Group on Disability MeasurementMeasurement

Washington, 18-20 February 2002Washington, 18-20 February 2002

Methodology Used in Methodology Used in Measurement of DisabilityMeasurement of Disability

Differences between studies with respect to:Differences between studies with respect to:

Definition of disability usedDefinition of disability used

The type of question usedThe type of question used

The wording of the questionThe wording of the question

The scope of the questionThe scope of the question

Defining DisabilityDefining Disability

Not much information is available in Not much information is available in DISTATDISTAT

Disability is defined differently by different Disability is defined differently by different countriescountries

Types of Questions UsedTypes of Questions Used

Three broad approaches:Three broad approaches:

A generic question on presence of condition and A generic question on presence of condition and items on activity limitations and/or participationitems on activity limitations and/or participation

A generic question on presence of handicapped A generic question on presence of handicapped or disabled in householdor disabled in household

A check list of severe impairmentsA check list of severe impairments

United Nations Census United Nations Census RecommendationsRecommendations

Provide guidance on:Provide guidance on:

How to define the population with disabilitiesHow to define the population with disabilities

How to develop the question(s)How to develop the question(s)

Possible tabulationsPossible tabulations

Recommended DefinitionRecommended Definition

A person with disability is defined as “a A person with disability is defined as “a person who is limited in the kind or person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem”condition or health problem”

Recommended List of Recommended List of Disability ItemsDisability Items

((1) Seeing difficulties (even with glasses, if worn);1) Seeing difficulties (even with glasses, if worn);

(2)(2) Hearing difficulties (even with hearing aid, if Hearing difficulties (even with hearing aid, if used); used);

(3)(3) Speaking difficulties (talking); Speaking difficulties (talking);

(4)(4) Moving/mobility difficulties (walking, climbing stairs, Moving/mobility difficulties (walking, climbing stairs, standing); standing);

(5)(5) Body movement difficulties (reaching, Body movement difficulties (reaching, crouching, crouching, kneeling);kneeling);

Recommended List of Recommended List of Disability ItemsDisability Items

(6)(6) Gripping/holding difficulties (using fingers to Gripping/holding difficulties (using fingers to grip or grip or handle objects); handle objects);

(7)(7) Learning difficulties (intellectual difficulties, Learning difficulties (intellectual difficulties, retardation); retardation);

(8)(8) Behavioural difficulties (psychological, Behavioural difficulties (psychological, emotional emotional problems); problems);

(9)(9) Personal care difficulties (bathing, dressing, Personal care difficulties (bathing, dressing, feeding); feeding);

(10) Others (specify). (10) Others (specify).

Use of the UN Census Use of the UN Census RecommendationsRecommendations

The approach, i.e., activity limitationsThe approach, i.e., activity limitations

List of disability itemsList of disability items

Revision of the Census Revision of the Census RecommendationsRecommendations

Approach in terms of concept to be usedApproach in terms of concept to be used

The list of types of disabilityThe list of types of disability

Measuring Implementation of Measuring Implementation of RecommendationsRecommendations

Technical co-operations – workshopsTechnical co-operations – workshops

Data compilation and dissemination – Data compilation and dissemination – DISTATDISTAT

Regularize Compilation and dissemination - Regularize Compilation and dissemination - UN Demographic YearbookUN Demographic Yearbook

DISTAB ProjectDISTAB Project

NCHS sponsored – began in 1999NCHS sponsored – began in 1999

Members – Canada, France, the Members – Canada, France, the Netherlands, South Africa, USA and UNSDNetherlands, South Africa, USA and UNSD

Objectives of DISTABObjectives of DISTAB

To test usability of ICIDH-2 beta 2 in To test usability of ICIDH-2 beta 2 in surveyssurveys

Back coding disability categories based on Back coding disability categories based on the UN recommended tables on disability to the UN recommended tables on disability to the ICIDH-2 codesthe ICIDH-2 codes

Lessons Learned From Lessons Learned From DISTABDISTAB

Variability in methodologyVariability in methodology

InstrumentsInstruments

TerminologyTerminology

Lessons LearntLessons Learnt

Call for harmonization of of methodology Call for harmonization of of methodology for disability measurementfor disability measurement

Recommendation to UN to hold Recommendation to UN to hold international meeting aimed at improving international meeting aimed at improving design of questionsdesign of questions

New InitiativesNew Initiatives

Expanded membership to include Australia Expanded membership to include Australia and Japanand Japan

New projectsNew projects Inventory of questions on participation Inventory of questions on participation

and environmentand environment Quality profilesQuality profiles