This study is one of several complementary studies examining the use of population based data to estimate the prevalence of disability in children. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K) examines factors that represent (a) child's health status, (b) socio-emotional and intellectual development, and (c) child's family, community, and school-classroom environment. Data were collected on a nationally representative sample of approximately 22,000 children enrolled in about 1,000 kindergarten programs during the 1998-99 school year. The ECLS-K provides information on the health, functional skills and well being of young children as they enter the public education system. This study compares these dimensions in children with and without disabilities. Items for defining disability were framed within the domain of activity limitations of the ICIDH2 and corresponded to similar items on the NHIS. A positive response to one or more indicator items was used to define children with disabilities, with the rest of the sample constituting the comparison group. These indicator items encompassed questions regarding learning, movement, communication, behavior, and independence. Analyses focused on the extent of children's performance of various tasks at home and school and their participation in social and communal activities. Of particular interest was documentation of the role of environmental factors in the home, school and the community factors that impact on functional performance of young children.
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to identify several specific environmental factors that facilitate or hinder the full participation of children with disabilities in daily life. 2. Participants will be able to describe the personal characteristics and environments of children with disabilities in the ECLS-K sample.
Keywords: Data/Surveillance, Disability
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
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